Preventive
Kylie Bontrager, DDS
Pediatric Dental Resident
Riley Outpatient Center
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
LaQuia A. Vinson, DDS, MPH
Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program Director
Indiana University/Riley Hospital for Children
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Richard Gregory, PhD, MS
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that coconut oil and gallic acid will have bactericidal effects on S. mutans as well as cause disruption of biofilm formation at the level of adhesion based on evidence provided by previous studies conducted on various polyphenols found within coconut oil.
Background: Streptococcus mutans is one of several bacteria associated with the disease process known as dental caries. Oil pulling is a traditional Indian folk remedy where oil is swished and forcibly pulled between the teeth to reduce plaque formation. This technique is preformed with various oils including sesame seed oil and coconut oil. Oil pulling has the potential to prevent dental caries by disrupting S. mutans biofilm formation in part due to the presence of polyphenols found within various refined oils. Coconut oil specifically contains gallic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, methyl catechin, dihydrokaempferol and myricetin glycoside.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of coconut oil and gallic acid on Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation.
Methods: Lab based procedures were used to identify the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of both coconut oil and gallic acid on S. mutans.
Conclusion: The results of this study would allow us to determine whether Coconut oil can be used to disrupt S. mutans biofilm and used in the prevention of dental caries through oil pulling.