Coconut oil is harvested from mature coconuts and normally presents as a white, soft solid when cool or a clear liquid when warm. It has many different uses and health benefits, including:
- Stress relief. Coconut oil works wonderfully as a massage oil, relieving mental and muscle fatigue through its application and soothing one’s senses with its gentle, natural scent.
- Digestive aid. Coconut oil is full of natural, good saturated fats that work to help with digestion and that also aid in the natural absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
- Fitness aid. Coconut oil can work to naturally improve your metabolism and energy levels and preserve your muscle mass. It has also been demonstrated to stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels.
- Common ailment cure. Coconut oil works wonderfully for treating many common ailments, including athletes foot, head lice, eczema, psoriasis, damaged skin and more.
In addition to these great uses and health benefits, coconut oil works wonders in preserving the health of your teeth and oral cavity. Lauric acid, which is present in coconut oil, is a fatty acid that is highly effective in fighting bacteria, and most especially the harmful oral bacteria that causes bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. By fighting the plaque buildup that can form on your teeth and lead to gum irritation and inflammation, coconut oil can help prevent and fight gum disease. By fighting the streptococcus mutans and lactobacillus bacteria, coconut oil can help prevent tooth decay just as effectively as many mouth rinses.
To receive the wonderful dental benefits of coconut oil, you should participate in oil pulling each day. This consists of placing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swishing it around–much in the same way that you swish mouthwash in your mouth–for at least fifteen to twenty minutes before spitting it out. You will want to make the effort to push and pull the coconut oil through the spaces between your teeth during this time so that it can provide the most benefits. When you spit out the coconut oil, do so into the trash so that it doesn’t clog the pipes in your bathroom sink. Then, brush your teeth to remove any residual bacteria that may have been loosened through the oil pulling and to help freshen your breath.
Since coconut oil attracts and traps harmful oral bacteria, you will be removing bacteria and plaque from your mouth every time you use it for oil pulling. While oil pulling is useful any time it’s performed, it’s recommended that you oil pull first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking, so that it focuses on the bacteria that has accumulated in your mouth overnight.
In addition to oil pulling with coconut oil, you can use coconut oil as a toothpaste by combining it with baking soda and brushing thoroughly. You can even eat coconut oil–either as a substitute for other oils or butter while cooking or straight. It is all-natural, affordable, and quite easy to find in most grocery stores. Furthermore, it doesn’t require refrigeration but can be stored for up to two years without spoiling, which makes it a very simple, useful and natural solution that can easily be kept at hand.
For more information about the dental benefits of coconut oil, contact your dentist, Dr. Saferin, today.
