The Potential of Coconut Oil as a Natural Oral Health Aid: Benefits
for Dental Hygiene and Overall Oral Health
An Experimental Research
Presented to
Mr. Joenel Rubino
Teacher III
T’boli National Highschool
T’boli, South Cotabato
Clavido, Alexa
Dala, Dranreb Karl
Delgado, Karen
Kiyugan, Ruthzell
Leon, Joannah May
Parcon, Cinderella Mae
October 2024
CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Background of the Study
The human body consists of various systems and components that
interact with the individual’s ability to speak. This impact is not only on
physical health but also considers the overall health of a person in a more
holistic manner. One of the issues that several people across the globe
experience and which is quite costly and disturbing to the health care
systems is oral health issues such as plaque production, gum diseases,
halitosis, and dental caries, among others. In recent years, more and more
people have been inclined towards using natural products aimed at oral
care where traditional products are seemingly unpopular due to the side
effects of chemical additives, especially some of the synthetic flavors and
fragrances contained in commercial mouth rinse or toothpaste products.
One such recently come-to-lightning alternative is coconut oil,
particularly with its application in the process called oil pulling. As the
name suggests, oil pulling comes from the ancient Indian science of
Ayurveda, which emphasizes swishing oil in the mouth to improve the oral
cavity’s condition—teeth and gums in particular. Coconut oil also contains
lauric acid, which has been shown to affect the harmful microbes present
in the mouth and may, therefore, help in preventing the formation of
plaque and maintaining the gums healthy. This aspect has in the course of
history made people embrace the use of the oil in their oral care practices.
Nevertheless, there is no scientific data on the safety and effectiveness of
the ‘oil pulling’ practice for oral hygiene; most of the supportive
information available is only anecdotal. The purpose of this thing is to
examine the potentiality of coconut oil as an ordinary support for oral
health by investigating its benefits for oral and dental health, its ability to
fight oral bacteria, and its general impact on oral health. Such a discourse
analysis that tests the empirical basis of sufficiency tends to envisage
raising awareness, especially within low-income settings, about its
relevance as a cheaper and more effective means of enhancing verbal
health care.
Statement of the Problem
1. What are the working constituents in coconut oil that perform better
for oral care than other oils, and how do they contribute to dental
health?
2. Will practicing oil pulling, which involves the habitual use of coconut
oil, influence any measurable changes in offering plaque and
gingivitis relief and even halitosis?
3. According to users, how does coconut oil compare to other
commercial mouthwashes or dental care products in terms of its
purchase, its availability, and the effect on oral hygiene?
Conceptual Framework
Independent Variable Dependent Variable
Plaque Reduction
Gum Health
Coconut Oil Usage Oral Microbiome
Balance
Overall Oral Health
Perception
This conceptual framework illustrates how integrating coconut oil as
a natural oral health product can impact the different facets of oral
cleanliness and entire wellbeing. Cognizance of these connections and
relations can lead to focusing on the research pursuit on the advantages
and efficacy of including coconut oil in regular activities of mouth care.
Significance of the Study
This study explores the potential of coconut oil as an effective,
natural oral health aid, specifically focusing on its benefits for dental
hygiene and overall oral health. The benefits are outlined as follows:
Students and Adolescents. A good number of the student population
and adolescents rarely access oral care services due to monetary
problems. This investigation emphasizes the potential of coconut oil as a
cheap and organic alternative to synthetic oral care products such as
toothpaste or even mouthwash.
Infants and Children. When it comes to oral health products, coconut oil
can be very helpful for infants and young children because of its natural
and non-toxic composition.
Adults and the General Population. A wide range of adults, such as
working-class women or men, and elderly people can be helped with the
ability of coconut oil to fight inflammation and bacteria that cause gum
diseases. Coconut oil is also beneficial since it helps in holistic oral
maintenance but is convenient for those who are inclined toward natural
health care.
Researchers. Coconut oil, as a natural oral health aid, offers researchers
the opportunity to explore an affordable, accessible, and non-toxic
alternative to chemical-based oral care products.
Scope and Delimitation of the study
The present study investigates the use of coconut oil as an oral
health remedy with its effect on dental and general oral cleanliness and
hygiene. The scope embraces the evaluation of coconut oil’s antibacterial,
anti-inflammatory, plaque attenuation, and oil pulling properties. The
study investigates different age groups (age span from infants to the
elderly) and how coconut oil supplements other oral hygiene
interventions.
The study is limited to the assessment of the effects of coconut oil
in the context of a natural oral health product and does not include in
detail the effects of other natural or synthetic products for comparison. It
is also limited in focus to effects on oral health indicators (e.g., plaque,
gingival indices) associated with short-term outcomes as opposed to oral
cavity health impact over long periods. The conclusions are aimed at
providing guidance on the subject matter under study as opposed to
generalizing clinical practices in any way.
Definition of Terms
Coconut Oil a natural oil extracted from the meat of mature
coconuts, known for its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory
properties. In this study, it is explored as an alternative oral care product
to improve dental hygiene and oral health.
Natural Oral Health Aid a substance derived from natural sources
used to support or enhance oral hygiene and health, without synthetic
chemicals or artificial additives. Coconut oil is examined as such an aid in
this study.
Oil Pulling an ancient practice involving swishing oil, like coconut oil,
in the mouth for several minutes to improve oral hygiene by reducing
bacteria and plaque. This technique is one method evaluated in the study.
Antimicrobial Properties the ability of a substance to kill or inhibit
the growth of microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. Coconut oil’s
antimicrobial properties are key to its potential effectiveness as an oral
health aid.
Anti-Inflammatory refers to a substance’s capability to reduce
inflammation. Coconut oil’s anti-inflammatory effects are assessed in this
study for their impact on gum health and prevention of oral diseases.
Plaque a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms on teeth and
gums, contributing to cavities and gum disease. The study examines
coconut oil’s ability to reduce plaque buildup.
Gingivitis a common gum disease characterized by inflammation,
swelling, and bleeding of the gums. The study looks into coconut oil’s
potential in preventing or managing gingivitis as part of overall oral health
care.
Review of Related Literature
Sasher et al. (2018) conducted a study on an age-old herbal
practice involving swishing oil in the mouth for am extended time to
improve oral health and overall well-being. There is a variety of edible oils
used in this therapy, but the scientific proof is scarce. Recent studies have
established that coconut oil is one of the most popular selling oils. Since it
contains lauric acid, one of the primary fatty acids in its composition,
coconut oil has successfully cured several oral and systematic diseases
and infections caused by bacteria and fungi. The researchers explores on
coconut oil pulling therapy for oral health, its mechanism, composition,
benefits, and scientific clinical studies.
Coconut oil is cheap and accessible oil for many people around the
world. There are numerous advocates for the practice of oil pulling to
prevent common oral diseases. Therefore, determining the effectiveness
of oil pulling with coconut oil could potentially have monotonous benefits.
The limited evidence about the practice like oil pulling may have a
beneficial effect on improving oral health and dental hygiene. Future
clinical trials are of merit considering the universal availability of the
intervention. Prospective research should have a robust design with
rigorous execution to provide a higher quality of evidence (Woolley et. al,
2012)
