NEW YORK, N.Y., USA: Digested coconut oil is able to attack the bacteria that cause tooth decay. It is a natural antibiotic that could be incorporated into commercial dental care products, say scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick, in Ireland.
The team from the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland tested the antibacterial action of coconut oil in its natural state and coconut oil that had been treated with enzymes, in a process similar to digestion.
The oils were tested against strains of Streptococcus bacteria that are common inhabitants of the mouth. The team of researchers found that enzyme-modified coconut oil strongly inhibited the growth of most strains of Streptococcus bacteria, including Streptococcus mutans — an acid-producing bacterium that is a major cause of tooth decay.
Earlier foodstuff studies prompted coconut-oil research
Many previous studies have shown that partially digested foodstuffs are active against microorganisms. Earlier work on enzyme-modified milk showed that it was able to reduce the binding of S. mutans to tooth enamel, which prompted the group to investigate the effect of other enzyme-modified foods on bacteria.
Further work will examine how coconut oil interacts with Streptococcus bacteria at the molecular level and which other strains of harmful bacteria and yeasts it is active against.
Additional testing by the group at the Athlone Institute of Technology found that enzyme-modified coconut oil was also harmful to the yeast Candida albicans, which can cause thrush.
No chemical additives and avoids concerns with antibiotic resistance
The researchers suggest that enzyme-modified coconut oil has potential as a marketable antimicrobial, which could be of particular interest to the oral health care industry.
Dr. Damien Brady, who is leading the research, said, “Dental caries is a commonly overlooked health problem affecting 60 to 90 percent of children and the majority of adults in industrialized countries.
“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.”
The work also contributes to our understanding of antibacterial activity in the human gut.
“Our data suggests that products of human digestion show antimicrobial activity. This could have implications for how bacteria colonize the cells lining the digestive tract and for overall gut health,” Brady said. “Our research has shown that digested milk protein not only reduced the adherence of harmful bacteria to human intestinal cells but also prevented some of them from gaining entrance into the cell. We are currently researching coconut oil and other enzyme-modified foodstuffs to identify how they interfere with the way bacteria cause illness and disease,” he said.
(Sources: Society for General Microbiology, Athlone Institute of Technology, AlphaGalileo Foundation and Science Daily)
Top tips to prevent tooth grinding
CHICAGO/NEW YORK, USA: How are Americans dealing with these difficult economic times? They’re taking the stress out on their teeth, if you ask ...
Fighting tooth decay with ‘sugar’
CHICAGO, IL / NEW YORK, NY, USA: If there’s one thing that all dentists have in common, it’s that they regularly see young patients with tooth ...
International / International
Brazil / Brasil
Canada / Canada
Latin America / Latinoamérica
Albania / Albania
Austria / Österreich
Bosnia and Herzegovina / Босна и Херцеговина
Bulgaria / България
Croatia / Hrvatska
Czech Republic & Slovakia / Česká republika & Slovensko
Finland / Suomi
France / France
Germany / Deutschland
Greece / ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
Italy / Italia
Netherlands / Nederland
Nordic / Nordic
Poland / Polska
Portugal / Portugal
Romania & Moldova / România & Moldova
Slovenia / Slovenija
Serbia & Montenegro / Србија и Црна Гора
Spain / España
Switzerland / Schweiz
Turkey / Türkiye
UK & Ireland / UK & Ireland
China / 中国
India / भारत गणराज्य
Japan / 日本
Pakistan / Pākistān
Vietnam / Việt Nam
ASEAN / ASEAN
Israel / מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל
Algeria / الجزائر
Middle East / Middle East
Prof. Xuemin PiCosmetic Dentistry: Tips and tricks for case acceptance and fundamental principles of estheticsLive webinar
Partha Mukherji DDS, FAGDRegister now1CECementation of all-ceramic restorations: update on materials and conceptsLive webinar
Prof. Dr. Sven RinkeRegister now1CEGrowing your dental practice—digital tools for successLive webinar
Dr. Marcus Dagnelid DDSRegister now1CE:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2022/06/RS_logo-2024.png "ROOTS SUMMIT")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2023/03/IMP-Banner-Image-World-Summit-Athens.png "Dentsply Sirona Implant Solutions World Summit")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/03/corp-en-us-image-dsw23-homepage-teaser-stage.jpg "Dentsply Sirona World 2023")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2020/02/Event_Dallas4-.jpg "ICOI World Congress Dallas 2023")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2020/02/Event_Las-Vegas-3.jpg "AAID Annual Conference 2023")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/Researchers-find-link-between-obesity-and-oral-cancer-immune-escape.jpg "Researchers find link between obesity and oral cancer immune escape")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/New-study-investigates-3D-printing-use-in-dental-practice.jpg "New study investigates 3D-printing use in dental practice")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/ROOTS-SUMMIT-2024_Header.jpg "One more year until ROOTS SUMMIT 2024")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/Researchers-to-develop-novel-antibiotic-delivery-system-to-treat-aggressive-periodontitis.jpg "Researchers to develop novel antibiotic delivery system to treat aggressive periodontitis")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/website_UofBuffalo.jpg "UB receives grant to improve vital pulp therapy, a root canal treatment alternative")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2014/02/MIS.png "MIS Implants Technologies")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2014/02/Du%CC%88rr_Dental.png "Dürr Dental")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2015/09/Curaden.png "Curaden")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2022/01/Sprintray_Logo_2506x700.png "SprintRay"){kind=logo}
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=png)/up/dt/2023/01/ClearCorrect_MainLogoV4.png "ClearCorrect")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/e-papers/313543/1.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 6, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/e-papers/308940/1.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 5, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/e-papers/308938/1.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 4, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2022/06/DTUS3ET_April2022_Final.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 3, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/e-papers/304597/1.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 2, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2022/02/DTUS0122_cover.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 1, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2017/01/3899386b00d1886cdc87837c57172541.jpg "Natural antibiotic could be added to dental products to combat tooth decay")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/Researchers-find-link-between-obesity-and-oral-cancer-immune-escape.jpg "Researchers find link between obesity and oral cancer immune escape")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=gif)/wp-content/themes/dt/images/dt-user.gif "Dental Tribune USA")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2017/07/a0d04c1c370ff91c1fd65f03ca8674e0.jpg "‘Tee for the ToothFairy’ raises funds to combat childhood tooth decay")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2010/09/26a15e7600cfeaa5b906a8134f8acb5b.jpg "Children with asthma no more likely to have tooth decay")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2017/01/3873351d2d39a59106b9037df5847946.jpg "TAUB Products rebrands itself, adds to product line")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2011/08/fea10c312456a23bdce1a78457b8bdeb.jpg "‘Introduction to dental office management’ course added to AADOM annual conference")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2010/05/3e97692b02bd55d464c1c30d6a8270d0.jpg "ADA Foundation funds initiatives to help prevent early childhood tooth decay")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/Researchers-to-develop-novel-antibiotic-delivery-system-to-treat-aggressive-periodontitis.jpg "Researchers to develop novel antibiotic delivery system to treat aggressive periodontitis")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2011/11/d7afeff876d1bb078f2b5e60b3184795.jpg "Ceramir Crown & Bridge gets you close to natural tooth structure")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2017/01/2096990916cd6c826ccd26567537d084.jpg "Top dentists come together to save natural teeth")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2010/04/f250b1a5d8723674129ef47ebfc50b4e.jpg "Top tips to prevent tooth grinding")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2010/08/a0d2daaea775974fb8764b880cf43f2c.jpg "Fighting tooth decay with ‘sugar’")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/Researchers-find-link-between-obesity-and-oral-cancer-immune-escape.jpg "Researchers find link between obesity and oral cancer immune escape")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/New-study-investigates-3D-printing-use-in-dental-practice.jpg "New study investigates 3D-printing use in dental practice")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2023/05/ROOTS-SUMMIT-2024_Header.jpg "One more year until ROOTS SUMMIT 2024")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/e-papers/308940/1.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 5, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/e-papers/308938/1.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 4, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2022/06/DTUS3ET_April2022_Final.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 3, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/e-papers/304597/1.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 2, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/2022/02/DTUS0122_cover.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 1, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/e-papers/313543/1.jpg "Dental Tribune U.S. No. 6, 2022")
:sharpen(level=0):output(format=jpeg)/up/dt/e-papers/313543/2.jpg "ISSUE")
