How often do you brush your teeth? Are you one of those who can be very meticulous on toothpaste brand?
Dental health is very important to one’s overall well-being. Several infections of the mouth can cause other problems within one’s body. There are a lot of health problems that have been linked to poor dental health. These include heart disease, stroke, dementia, and respiratory problems. Regular visits to your dentist are recommended to help keep your body healthy. What about between visits? What is the best way to keep one’s mouth healthy?
Coconut oil toothpaste might be the next step in dental health. Due to sensitivity, over the counter toothpaste and rinses are just too irritating. Many will be happy that a Coconut Oil alternative is being researched.
Coconut oil has been all the craze lately and for good reason; it is amazing. It has great antibacterial properties that are a big benefit to one’s mouth. In a recent study from the Athlone Institute of Technology on different oils and their benefits toward mouth health, coconut oil was shown to be the best. Coconut oil when treated with digestive enzymes does a great job at stopping bacterial growth in the mouth. This includes bacteria with the S Mutation.
The S Mutans or Streptococcus mutans are acid-producing bacteria. They contribute to tooth decay for both adults and children. These bacteria get their energy from sugar and in return produce an acidic mouth environment. This acidic environment then demineralizes the tooth structure which leads to tooth decay. Imagine that!
Lead researcher from Athlone Institute of Technology Dr. Damien Brady, stated, “Incorporating enzyme-modified coconut oil into dental hygiene products would be an attractive alternative to chemical additives, particularly as it works at relatively low concentrations. Also, with increasing antibiotic resistance, it is important that we turn our attention to new ways to combat microbial infection.”
Trying to avoid harmful chemicals using a more natural solution for toothpaste is a great choice for anyone. Many toothpastes contain triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, fluoride, and artificial sweeteners like aspartame. Each one of these chemicals can cause health problems. Triclosan has been linked to endocrine disruption which can cause several different cancers. Also sodium lauryl sulfate, which creates the foaming action in toothpastes, has been shown to affect the taste buds which increases the bitter taste.
Another common practice with coconut oil is oil pulling. One simply swishes 1 tablespoon coconut oil in their mouth for 5-20 minutes on an empty stomach. Once finished, spit out the coconut oil. It is believed to help remove toxins and bacteria. This practice also improves dental health.
Ready to try coconut oil as a toothpaste?
This simple recipe will get you started right.
Natural Toothpaste Recipe
½ cup coconut oil
2-3 tablespoons baking soda
15-30 drops of peppermint, lemon, or thieves essential oil
Mix together and use like any store bought toothpaste.
According to research, there have been a lot of proven medical advancement that uses coconut. Let’s try to embrace this concept, it’s all good for us.
Cheerio!
