Irish researchers have discovered an unusual new weapon for fighting gum disease:Â?coconut oil. The study from Athlone Institute of Technology connected properties in the oil of coconuts that can inhibit tooth decay. Your Knoxville family dentist, Dr. Jim Erpenbach, would like to explain how coconut lovers might have a leg up when it comes to…
Irish researchers have discovered an unusual new weapon for fighting gum disease:Â?coconut oil. The study from Athlone Institute of Technology connected properties in the oil of coconuts that can inhibit tooth decay. Your Knoxville family dentist, Dr. Jim Erpenbach, would like to explain how coconut lovers might have a leg up when it comes to their oral health.
Medicinal Benefits of Coconuts
Sipping a tropical drink out of a coconut shell sounds like a great vacation indulgence. Due to a high content of saturated fat, researchers have advised consuming coconut oil in moderation. However, new information shows that every part of the coconut has healthy properties. The shell and flesh of the coconut are a source of high fiber. The oil, though saturated, metabolizes in the body as one of the most heart healthy oils.
New information that was presented at the Society for General Microbiology’s Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick, shows that the oil from coconuts may have a completely new benefit. When mixed with certain enzymes, coconut oil Â?stopped the growth of multiple strains of Streptococcus bacteria, including Streptococcusmutans, which play a central role in the development of gum disease, which can lead to tooth decay.
How to Put Coconut Oil’s Benefits into Action
The leader of the recent research in Ireland, Dr. Damien Brady, suggests that there is a way to modify coconut oil with enzymes, conveying the same results that the human digestion system provides. After being put through this process, coconut oil could potentially be incorporated into dental products as a natural component that is effective at lower concentrations than the chemical additives that are found in most toothpastes on the market.
Dr. Erpenbach keeps up with all of the latest dental news so that he can share innovations with his patients. To make an appointment with Dr. Erpenbach for all of your general and cosmetic dentistry needs, contact us at 865-584-8630. We are happy to serve patients from the 37919 zip code, the Bearden area, and West Knoxville
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