Taking care of the body is crucial if we want to maintain our health and look young. Dental care is also pivotal for a mouth cavity without bacteria. When you take adequate care of the teeth and gums, you prevent infections, cavities, and tooth decay. Poor dental care is known to lead to an increased risk of stroke, dementia, heart disease, and respiratory problems. Besides regular tooth brushing, you should do regular dentist checkups and eat healthy foods.
In order to maintain the health of the teeth and gums, there are some natural ingredients that can be of great aid. Coconut oil is considered to be one of the best ingredients for maintenance of the dental health. Coconut oil is a versatile ingredient because it has a lot of health benefits.
According to a recent study, conducted at the Athlone Insitute, coconut oil is a potent anti-bacterial agent and it prevents the growth of the bacteria. It also prevents tooth decay by protecting against Streptococcus and S. Mutans which are bacteria that produce bacteria. They can get the energy from sugars and lead to an acidic mouth which is a perfect surrounding for tooth decay.
According to the lead researcher, Dr. Damien Brady, coconut oil works at low concentrations and it’s an amazing alternative to all other dental products. It fights off microbial infection and protect you from harmful compounds found in store-bought toothpastes like sodium lauryl sultate, fluoride, triclosan, aspartame, etc. which can have a detrimental effect on the health. Therefore, avoid using these toothpastes and prepare your own toothpaste with coconut oil.
You will need:
Half a cup of coconut oil
3 tbsp of baking soda
150 to 30 drops of lemon or peppermint essential oil
Preparation and use:
Mix the ingredients well and use the mixture as you would use a regular toothpaste.
Additional advice:
The oil pulling method is another beneficial way to improve your oral health. Just swish 1 tbsp of coconut oil in the mouth for 5 to 20 minutes. Do this in the morning on an empty stomach and then spit it out.
