Exploring The Potential of Adjunctive Use of Virgin Coconut Oil in Periodontal Therapy: A Narrative Review
Nur Shahira Binti Azmi1*, Fouad Hussain Al-Bayaty2 and Mohd Faizal Hafez Hidayat1
1Centre for Periodontology Studies, Faculty of Dentistry Universiti Teknologi MARA
2Faculty of Dentistry, MAHSA University
*Corresponding Author: Professor Fouad Hussain Al-Bayaty, Faculty of Dentistry, MAHSA University, Jalan SP2, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.
Published: April 30, 2024
DOI: 10.55162/MCMS.06.209
Abstract
Background: Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), obtained naturally without chemical processing, boasts anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, making it a potential adjunct in treating periodontal diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. Despite its benefits, research on VCO's specific effects as an adjunct to the treatment of periodontal disease remains limited. Aim: This review aims to explore existing data on VCO's potential in addressing periodontal issues. Materials and Method: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for available literature with the keywords; (periodontal disease OR periodontitis OR periodontal therapy OR periodontium) AND (gingivitis OR gingival disease) AND (virgin coconut oil OR VCO) spanning from 2003 to 2024. This review only included original articles that were fully written in English. Results: A total of seven articles were found on VCO related to periodontology. VCO adjunctive applications were reported to result in further reductions of plaque index, gingival index, inflammatory mediators, and inhibition of periodontal pathogens. Conclusions: From this review, it can be concluded that VCO exerts multiple beneficial effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, healing properties, anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis and anti-bacterial that are beneficial for various periodontal disease management.
Keyword: Anti-bacterial; anti-gingivitis; Anti-inflammatory; anti-oxidant; anti-plaque; periodontal disease; virgin coconut oil
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