Many people seeking natural alternatives for personal care have turned to the combination of coconut oil and baking soda as a purported homemade toothpaste. While both ingredients possess individual properties that can contribute to oral hygiene, it is important to examine the science behind this mixture to understand its true effect on long-term dental health. The appeal often lies in using fewer processed chemicals, but this approach overlooks the specific protective mechanisms engineered into modern oral care.
The Action of Baking Soda on Tooth Enamel
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a mildly abrasive powder that helps remove surface stains from teeth. Its abrasive quality is measured using the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale, where pure baking soda registers a very low value of approximately 7. This is significantly lower than the range of most commercial toothpastes, which can fall between 35 and 250, making baking soda one of the gentler cleaning agents available.
Baking soda is an alkaline compound with a pH of about 8.3. This alkalinity is beneficial because it helps neutralize the acids produced by oral bacteria after eating, which are the primary cause of enamel demineralization and decay. By buffering the oral environment, baking soda can temporarily shift the mouth’s pH to a level that discourages acid attack.
However, when used in a homemade mixture, the baking soda’s powder form is not controlled or buffered by other ingredients, unlike commercial products. Even a mild abrasive, when scrubbed aggressively or repeatedly over time, can cause wear on the protective tooth enamel. This uncontrolled use can lead to increased tooth sensitivity and make teeth appear slightly more yellow as the enamel thins and the underlying dentin becomes more visible.
The Role of Coconut Oil (Oil Pulling) in Oral Hygiene
Coconut oil contributes to the mixture primarily through the practice of oil pulling, an ancient tradition from Ayurvedic medicine. This process involves swishing oil in the mouth for an extended period, which physically dislodges debris and plaque. The oil itself is high in lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that makes up about 50% of its composition.
Lauric acid is known for its antimicrobial properties, which are released when it interacts with saliva. In the mouth, lauric acid is converted into monolaurin, a compound shown to be effective against certain harmful oral bacteria. This includes Streptococcus mutans, a primary bacterium responsible for converting sugars into the acids that cause cavities.
Research has indicated that oil pulling with coconut oil can significantly reduce S. mutans counts in saliva, sometimes comparable to the effect of a conventional chlorhexidine mouthwash. The oil works by trapping bacteria and reducing plaque adhesion, offering a supportive role in hygiene. Coconut oil is not a traditional mechanical cleaner and cannot scrub away plaque or stains; it acts more as an antimicrobial rinse that can complement brushing.
Why This Mixture is Not a Substitute for Commercial Toothpaste
The primary issue with using a coconut oil and baking soda paste as a daily toothpaste substitute is the absence of fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that plays a role in protecting and repairing tooth enamel. It works by integrating into the tooth structure to form fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid erosion than the natural enamel.
Commercial toothpastes contain fluoride specifically to aid in remineralization, the natural process where minerals lost to acid are redeposited back into the tooth surface. By using a DIY mixture that lacks this protective mineral, a person is foregoing the scientifically proven defense against cavities and decay.
This lack of fluoride protection is problematic when combined with the uncontrolled abrasive action of baking soda, which can still lead to enamel wear over time. Relying on this homemade paste means the teeth are denied the necessary agent to repair and strengthen the enamel. This combination puts teeth at a long-term risk of increased sensitivity, thinning enamel, and a higher susceptibility to cavities.
Dental professionals caution that while the individual ingredients have some benefits, they cannot replace the comprehensive protection offered by a regulated, fluoridated toothpaste.