Evaluating the effectiveness of coconut oil (Cocus nucifera) anti-bacterial benefits in caries prevention: A literature review

Dea Permata 1, *, Daniel Adhie Saputra 1, Billy Saputra Sutedjo 1 and Zahara Meilawaty 20

1 Bachelor of Dental Medicine Programme, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Jember, Indonesia.
2 Department of Dentistry-Biomedical Sciences, Oral Pathology and Maxillofacial, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Jember, Indonesia.
 
Review
International Journal of Science and Research Archive, 2024, 11(02), 212–215.
Article DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2024.11.2.0401
Publication history: 
Received on 20 January 2024; revised on 03 March 2024; accepted on 05 March 2024
 
Abstract: 
Background: Caries is the damage to the hard tooth tissue, which is enamel and dentine due to bacteria, with one of them being Streptococcus mutans. Caries is the most widespread non-infectious disease, with 2 billion people in the world suffering from permanent tooth caries and 514 million children suffering from primary tooth caries. The abundance of natural resources in Indonesia can be used as a way to prevent caries, such as using coconut oil which is known to have antibacterial benefits.
Method: Analysis of several scientific findings and research with publication limitation over the last 5 years, recorded after January 1st, 2018.
Results: Based on the results of analysis from several studies, coconut oil is proven to contain lauric acid which can be converted into monolaurin which is an active antibacterial agent. Monolaurin will cover the surface of the bacterial cell wall (peptidoglycan) and penetrate so that metabolism and cell permeability are disrupted and ultimately the cell lysis and cell death occurs. Studies show the effect of coconut oil on the incubation of bacteria that successfully inhibit colonization.
Conclusion: It is proven that the content of coconut oil can effectively prevent the growth of the bacteria causing caries. Coconut oil has the potential to be an important step in preventing caries in the future.
 
Keywords: 
Anti-bacteria; Coconut oil; Dental caries; Streptococcus mutans
 
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