Throw out that minty-fresh toothpaste and get yourself a bottle oc coconut oil, suggests a new study that found the fruit has an active ingredient that effectively fights tooth decay.

The coconut oil was found to become a powerful combatant against the main bacterium responsible for tooth decay, Streptococcus mutans, a sugar-loving bug that clings to teeth and creates acid causing rot.

Treating the coconut oil with digestive enzymes, scientists discovered that the coconut oil – which is antifungal as well as antibacterial – became a powerful agent against tooth decay.

Lead researcher Dr Damien Brady of the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland said the research was inspired by a previous study showing that partially digested milk reduced Streptococcus mutans' ability to stick to tooth enamel.

HE pointed out that something natural such as coconut oil is effective even when used in very small doses and is far more appealing than using potentially chemicals.

The finding could also be significant in the continual fight against evolving bacteria which easily becomes resistant to treatments.

Brady plans to investigate whether or not coconut oil is effective in killing other unwanted bacteria in the body and believes the findings of this study could have a positive impact on future research into overall digestive health.

According to the team, other trials seem to indicate that the active coconut oil can even destroy thrush-causing Candida albicans.

The team intends testing the active coconut oil against other bacteria and hopes their discovery will result in toothpastes and mouthwashes being produced with coconut oil as an active ingredient.

They presented their findings at the autumn conference for the Society for General Microbiology.