coffee and cavities

[Guest guest]

Coffee seems to impart an annoying film to my mouth, and I always was afriad

with my vulnerable teeth this might be a problem with the acids and whatnot,

and make my teeth more vulnerable to cavities.

But I just read of a study today that found, in a test tube anyway, roast

coffee beans kill streptococcus mutans. That was the only bacteria mentioned in

the short article, so I don't know if they tested other bacteria. I don't but

into the streptococcus-mutans-is-the-bacteria-that-causes-cavities idea, but

I do believe that is a partial topical component to tooth decay, and that it

can be managed for worse or better by topical means.

So the moral is that coffee sitting on the teeth probably isn't so bad and

might be, surprise, suprise, good.

I think excess caffeine would contribute to cavities for metabolic reasons,

but if the level of caffeine is within what you can handle to no ill effect

metabolically perhaps coffee is a good thing for the teeth.

?

Perhaps.

Chris