From coir to cleaner smiles: A Novel Coconut Fiber coated VCO Micro brush for eco conscious oral hygiene

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic, multifactorial inflammatory disease driven by dysbiosis subgingival biofilms that progressively destroy gingival tissues, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. Conventional mechanical debridement and single use plastic interdental applicators contribute to residual disease activity and environmental burden.
Objective: To evaluate the physicochemical properties, antimicrobial efficacy, biodegradability, and user acceptability of a novel, fully biodegradable interdental micro brush composed of coconut coir fibers coated with virgin coconut oil (VCO), and to compare its performance with conventional plastic micro brushes.
Methods: Review search (2019–2025) of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar was conducted using Boolean keywords related to “micro brush,” “coconut fiber,” “coconut oil,” “biomaterials,” and “eco friendly.” In vitro, ex vivo, and clinical studies assessing coir tensile strength, Young’s modulus, density, oil adsorption/release kinetics, antimicrobial activity against key oral pathogens (e.g., Streptococcus mutans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Candida albicans), biodegradability, and user acceptability were included. 
Results: Coconut coir fibers demonstrated tensile strengths of 105–593 MPa, Young’s moduli of 2–8 GA, and densities of 1.1–1.5 g/cm³, providing abrasive cleaning efficacy compare with nylon bristles. VCO’s lauric acid and monolaurin exhibited broad spectrum antimicrobial activity by disrupting microbial membranes, with sustained release over 4–6 hours. Preliminary clinical trials reported significant reductions in plaque indices and inflammatory markers (IL 6, TNF α) comparable to chlorhexidine, without adverse effects. Coir micro brushes fully biodegraded within 60 days under composting conditions, versus centuries for plastic counterparts. User surveys indicated high acceptability in terms of ease of use, comfort, and perceived cleanliness.
Conclusion: Coconut coir–VCO micro brushes combine mechanical plaque removal and targeted antimicrobial delivery in a biodegradable format, offering an eco friendly alternative to plastic interdental applicators. Further randomized controlled trials and standardized testing protocols are recommended to validate long term clinical efficacy and environmental impact