The Power of Coconut Oil for Oral Health
The Power of Coconut Oil for Oral Health | Desert Essence

Coconut oil is considered one of the world’s healthiest fats for cooking, baking, first aid, supplementation, and DIY products.

Yet few people take advantage of the benefits of coconut oil for oral health.

Ayurvedic practitioners (traditional Indian medicine) have been aware of this for centuries and have popularized the use of coconut oil for oil pulling.

However, oil pulling is just one of many ways to incorporate coconut oil into your existing oral care routine.

Come along as we explore the lesser-known yet extraordinary benefits of coconut oil for oral health, teeth brushing, and gum health.

Why Use Coconut Oil For Oral Health?

As you may already know, coconut oil is rich in essential fatty acids like lauric acid, a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), myristic acid, and palmitic acid. 

These fatty acids have been shown to promote healthy microbial balance, fungal balance, microbiome health, inflammatory response, and nourish the skin.

This is significant as oral microbiome health and function are directly linked to your teeth, gums, and breath, which can have an impact on other aspects of health, including cardiovascular, immune, and more.

What Is The Oral Microbiome?

If you’re already familiar with the oral microbiome, skip this part and dive into the five benefits of coconut oil for oral health.

If not, here’s a quick explainer.

You’ve probably heard of the gut microbiome, a vast community of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, and others that inhabits your digestive tract and influences digestion, immune function, and even mental-emotional well-being.

The same type of microbiome exists in your mouth (and skin, eyes, genitals, etc.) and is known as the oral microbiome.

Like the gut microbiome, the oral microbiome plays a central role in the health of our teeth and gums.

However, suppose the oral microbiome becomes imbalanced, and bad bacteria take over. In that case, it can compromise oral health, leading to gum problems, plaque build-up, tooth decay, and other issues over time.

Studies suggest that functional foods, like coconut oil, may help promote oral microbiome health, which we’ll discuss more next.

Coconut Oil And Oral Health Benefits

Now that you have a general understanding of coconut oil and the oral microbiome, let’s get into the research and benefits.

Coconut Oil Helps Support A Healthy Oral Environment

Studies suggest the lauric acid and other active plant compounds in coconut oil may play a role in supporting balance within the oral microbiome.

Research suggests it may work by supporting normal bacterial balance in the mouth, which may help promote healthy teeth and gums.

But unlike harsh antibacterial mouthwashes, coconut oil does not appear to impact beneficial oral bacteria negatively.




This is significant as beneficial bacteria are essential for maintaining a healthy and diverse oral microbiome.

The big takeaway here is that, unlike harsh antibacterial ingredients, coconut may help reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth while protecting beneficial bacteria and avoiding unpleasant side effects.

Oil Pulling May Help Remove And Prevent Plaque Build-Up

As mentioned in the introduction, oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique to improve oral health.

Classic oil pulling typically utilizes coconut or sesame oil, both of which have beneficial properties, which you swish or “pull” around your mouth for several minutes before brushing.

This creates a natural cleansing effect that helps make brushing more effective.

A growing body of research supports oil pulling, showing it may reduce bacteria in saliva and promote better oral health.

Many people also swear by oil pulling to help promote gum health and reduce plaque; however, the evidence on its use is mixed.

Related reading: The Brush-Up: What is Oil Pulling & What Are the Benefits?

Coconut Oil Can Help Freshen Breath

Bad breath doesn’t just come from eating a garlicky salmon caesar; studies show it often results from disruptions in the oral and/or gut microbiome.

Coconut oil used orally in toothpastes, mouthwashes, or oil pulling and/or internally can help with bad breath via its positive effects on the oral microbiome.

While your oral microbiome is adjusting, you can also add food-grade breath-freshening essential oils, such as peppermint, tea tree, or neem oil, to your oil pulling carrier oil.

Coconut Oil May Benefit Your Gums

Although the research on the benefits of coconut oil for gum health is mixed, anecdotal evidence and its long history of successful use in Ayurveda make a strong case.

Proponents of using coconut oil for gum health cite its demonstrated benefits for oral microbiome health and inflammatory response, which are directly linked to gum health.

People also report regular use of coconut oil in oil pulling, taken as a supplement, or used in toothpastes and mouthwashes, has improved the tone, look, and overall health of their gums.

Ultimately, more research is needed to prove a definitive correlation between the use of coconut oil/oil pulling and gum health.

However, given its historical use, safety profile, and strong anecdotal evidence, unless you’re allergic to coconuts, it can’t hurt to experiment.

How To Use Coconut Oil for Oral Hygiene

Oil pulling can produce some impressive benefits, but it’s not the only way to use coconut oil for oral hygiene.

Here are some other ways to use it

Coconut Oil For Teeth Brushing

Desert Essence Coconut Oil Toothpaste makes it super easy to incorporate coconut oil into your daily oral care routine.

This plant-derived, fluoride-free, sulfate-free, vegan formula contains organic coconut oil along with baking soda, sea salt, zinc citrate, and pure Australian tea tree oil to help defend against cavity-forming sugar acids with brushing. 

Plus, it tastes great, is mess-free, and leaves your breath smelling minty clean and fresh.

Shop Desert Essence Coconut Oil Toothpaste.

Use A Coconut Oil Mouthwash

Oil pulling is impressive, but it’s not for everyone, especially if you don’t love the feel or taste of coconut oil in your mouth and/or don’t have the time.

In this case, a natural coconut oil-based mouthwash, like Desert Essence Coconut Oil Mouthwash, can help provide some of the same benefits.

Our great-tasting, alcohol-free mouthwash marries the microbiome-balancing power of organic coconut oil used to remove impurities from the mouth, pure Australian eco-harvest® tea tree oil to help defend against cavity-forming sugar acids with brushing, zinc citrate, and soothing aloe to help support gum health. 

Great for use before or after brushing to boost your oral care routine.

You can also make a DIY coconut oil mouthwash using fractionated coconut oil, a liquid refined coconut that won’t clump at room temperature.

Shop Desert Essence Coconut Oil Mouthwash.

Make A DIY Coconut Oil Gum Pack

Teeth and gum packs are popular in traditional herbal practices for addressing localized issues.

Coconut oil makes a great addition or carrier oil for oral-care-specific herbs, like neem, goldenseal, myrrh, or peppermint.

Simply mix a small amount into your herbal pack and apply to your gums as directed.

How To Use Coconut Oil For Oil Pulling (DIY and the easy way)

Whether you’re new to oil pulling or an old pro, coconut oil is the ultimate medium!

You can use it straight out of the bottle—take 1-3 teaspoons in your mouth, let it melt, and swish away, or in oil pulling blends, which many people find more pleasant.

Desert Essence offers Coconut Oil Dual Phase Pulling Rinse, a vegan, non-GMO oil-pulling blend of traditional organic coconut oil, sesame oil, and sunflower oil with pure Australian tea tree, wintergreen, and spearmint oils to freshen breath.

The best thing about using this blend is its dual-rinse, making it easier to swish, providing the benefits of oil pulling and a mouthwash in one.

How To Oil Pull Using Desert Essence Coconut Oil Dual Phase Pulling Rinse

  1. Fill a capful with Coconut Oil Dual Phase Pulling Rinse, pour it into your mouth, and begin swishing between your teeth.
  2. Begin with three minutes and gradually increase to up to 20 minutes for optimal results. 
  3. When finished, discard the rinse into a garbage can (not the sink or toilet, as this may cause the drain to clog), and you’re done!

Note: Do not swallow! Although the oils themselves are entirely edible and healthful, they pick up harmful bacteria and microbes during swishing, which you don’t want to re-ingest.

5. Use Coconut Oil as a Toothpaste Alternative

If you’re the type that detests the taste and feel of toothpaste, coconut oil can be a good alternative.

You can either apply a small clump to your toothbrush directly or combine with baking soda, essential oils, powdered calcium, and other ingredients to create a functional DIY toothpaste alternative.

For best results, use with other oral care products, such as a mouthwash, oil pulling, etc.

Experience The Benefits of Coconut Oil for Teeth & Gums with Desert Essence Oral Care Products

Coconut oil is, arguably, one of the most powerful and affordable natural ingredients for supporting oral health.

Whether you go the DIY route or try one of our products, you’re sure to see beneficial results after a few weeks and months of daily use.

To recap, the Desert Essence Coconut Oil Oral Care Collection includes:

Concerned about quality?

All our oral care products are plant-derived, vegan, fluoride-free, cruelty-free, Non-GMO Project Verified, and affordably priced (woo hoo!).

Coconut Oil for Oral Care FAQs

Have more questions about coconut oil for oral care? Check out these FAQs.

Q: I’m allergic to coconut oil. Can I still use your products?

Yes, just not the ones with coconut oil.

Desert Essence offers a wide variety of toothpastes free from coconut oil, including:

Although it doesn’t have all the same benefits, sesame oil is a good alternative for oil pulling.

Q: How much coconut oil for oil pulling?

General recommendations are to use 1-3 teaspoons or one capful of Coconut Oil Dual-Phase Pulling Rinse.

Q: How long to oil pull?

Most people start with 1-3 minutes and work up to 10-20 minutes, depending on their schedule.

You do not need to oil-pull for 20 minutes to receive benefits. Even a few minutes will make a positive difference.

Q: Are there any oil-pulling side effects?

If you start slow, typically not. 

However, some people experience headaches or jaw tension from the pulling. This can be avoided by starting slow and working your way up.

Q: What do I do with the oil after oil pulling?

Do not swallow, as the oil will contain bacteria and microbes.

Do not spit down the sink or in the toilet, as coconut oil will solidify at room or cooler temperatures, and may result in clogged drains.

Never spit into the shower or bathtub, as this can cause a slip hazard and serious injury.

Instead, spit into a garbage can when done.

Q: How do I use coconut oil for teeth brushing?

Use a coconut oil toothpaste, like this one, or apply a small clump to your toothbrush.

See the previous point on how to make a DIY coconut oil toothpaste.

Q: Does coconut oil help gums?

Although the evidence is mixed, many people report coconut oil and oil pulling have helped their gums.

It also has demonstrated benefits for reducing oral bacteria and supporting a healthy inflammatory response, which may benefit the gums.

It has also been recommended in Ayurveda for gum health for centuries.

References Mentioned in This Article:

  • “Chemical composition and health benefits of coconut oil: an overview”. J Sci Food Agric.
  • “The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review”. Heliyon.
  • “Is Coconut Oil Good for Oral Health? A Review”. Journal of Health Research and Reviews.
  • “Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial efficacy of coconut oil for periodontal pathogens: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial”. Clin Oral Invest.
  • “Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene – A review”. Journal of Traditional and 
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