Coffee May Help Prevent Cavities

All coffee drinkers know that a major risk to their sipping delight is stained teeth. But a new study found that coffee might actually help prevent cavities.

Coffee made from roasted coffee beans has antibacterial effects against certain microorganisms, including Streptococcus mutans, a major cause of cavities, according to a study published in the Feb. 27 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Probing deeper into this peculiar property of java, scientists at two Italian universities conducted laboratory tests that showed some coffee molecules prevent adhesion of the bacteria on tooth enamel.

The study's lead author, Gabriella Gazzani, of the University of Pavia and researchers at the University of Ancona analyzed samples of green and roasted arabica and robusta coffee from different countries.

They found that all the samples inibited bacterial absorption on tooth enamel, but the green -- unroasted -- coffee samples were less effective than the roasted varieties.

The researchers also examined caffeine and non-caffeine samples of ground and instant coffee. Instant coffee seemed to be more effective in fighting the bacteria, but caffeine wasn't found to play a role on whether the coffee prevented cavities.

The data from the study suggest that trigonelline, a water-soluble compound in coffee that contributes to the aroma and flavor of the beverage, may be mostly responsible for protecting against bacteria.