Scientists from Tel Aviv University have just shown that, far from causing bad breath , coffee extract can inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth that cause halitosis.
"Everyone thinks that coffee causes bad breath, and this is often true because coffee, which has a dehydrating effect on the mouth, when mixed with milk can ferment into foul-smelling substances," explains the microbiologist and co-author of the study Mel Rosenberg. However, to Rosenberg's own surprise, his latest experiments reveal that pure coffee extract can have just the opposite effect, inhibiting the growth of bacteria that cause halitosis .
Following the discovery, Rosenberg has proposed creating new mouthwashes and gum with purified coffee extract that combat the origin of bad breath , instead of masking the odor like current menthol products do.
