Many people think their bad breath has worsened because their breath smells like coffee after drinking it. However, studies examining the relationship between coffee and bad breath have produced some surprising findings. Coffee may help reduce substances that cause bad breath.
The main cause of bad breath is volatile sulfur compounds, VSCs, produced when bacteria in the mouth break down proteins and other substances. Hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan are representative examples, and the more these substances increase, the stronger the unpleasant odor becomes. Tongue coating and gum disease are also major factors that increase the production of volatile sulfur compounds.
Coffee is known to worsen bad breath by drying out the mouth through caffeine's diuretic effect and other mechanisms. When the mouth becomes dry, saliva secretion decreases, which can allow oral bacteria and odor-causing substances to increase. Saliva neutralizes acids in the mouth and helps wash away food debris and bacteria. Therefore, if your mouth feels dry after drinking a lot of coffee, it is a good idea to drink plenty of water.
However, some studies have found that coffee may actually reduce bad breath. In a study published in 'Journal of Breath Research,' researchers examined coffee's effects on oral bacteria and volatile sulfur compounds. Under conditions involving a certain concentration of coffee, volatile sulfur compounds and odor decreased by about 85%.
A study involving actual human participants produced similar results. The randomized controlled crossover trial, published in 2021, involved 17 healthy adults. After inducing bad breath, the researchers had the participants hold Arabica coffee in their mouths and measured the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in their breath. Hydrogen sulfide decreased both one hour and two hours after the coffee was used, with the reduction particularly significant after one hour. However, the effect did not last for an extended period.
That does not mean coffee should be considered a bad-breath remover. The earlier studies showed that coffee may temporarily reduce certain substances associated with bad breath, not that drinking coffee makes bad breath disappear.
Rather, if bad breath persists, it is necessary to examine the condition of the mouth before focusing on coffee. Tongue coating and gum disease are major factors that cause bad breath. In a study of 40 people conducted by a research team at Seoul National University School of Dentistry, tongue coating played an important role in the production of volatile sulfur compounds, and periodontal status was also found to have an effect.
Therefore, if bad breath concerns you after drinking coffee, it is important not to avoid coffee unconditionally but to drink water with it and maintain basic oral hygiene, including brushing your teeth and cleaning your tongue. If bad breath persists for a long time or does not improve even after brushing, it may be caused by tooth decay, gum disease or another condition, so it is advisable to have a dental examination.
The main cause of bad breath is volatile sulfur compounds, VSCs, produced when bacteria in the mouth break down proteins and other substances. Hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan are representative examples, and the more these substances increase, the stronger the unpleasant odor becomes. Tongue coating and gum disease are also major factors that increase the production of volatile sulfur compounds.
Coffee is known to worsen bad breath by drying out the mouth through caffeine's diuretic effect and other mechanisms. When the mouth becomes dry, saliva secretion decreases, which can allow oral bacteria and odor-causing substances to increase. Saliva neutralizes acids in the mouth and helps wash away food debris and bacteria. Therefore, if your mouth feels dry after drinking a lot of coffee, it is a good idea to drink plenty of water.
However, some studies have found that coffee may actually reduce bad breath. In a study published in 'Journal of Breath Research,' researchers examined coffee's effects on oral bacteria and volatile sulfur compounds. Under conditions involving a certain concentration of coffee, volatile sulfur compounds and odor decreased by about 85%.
A study involving actual human participants produced similar results. The randomized controlled crossover trial, published in 2021, involved 17 healthy adults. After inducing bad breath, the researchers had the participants hold Arabica coffee in their mouths and measured the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in their breath. Hydrogen sulfide decreased both one hour and two hours after the coffee was used, with the reduction particularly significant after one hour. However, the effect did not last for an extended period.
That does not mean coffee should be considered a bad-breath remover. The earlier studies showed that coffee may temporarily reduce certain substances associated with bad breath, not that drinking coffee makes bad breath disappear.
Rather, if bad breath persists, it is necessary to examine the condition of the mouth before focusing on coffee. Tongue coating and gum disease are major factors that cause bad breath. In a study of 40 people conducted by a research team at Seoul National University School of Dentistry, tongue coating played an important role in the production of volatile sulfur compounds, and periodontal status was also found to have an effect.
Therefore, if bad breath concerns you after drinking coffee, it is important not to avoid coffee unconditionally but to drink water with it and maintain basic oral hygiene, including brushing your teeth and cleaning your tongue. If bad breath persists for a long time or does not improve even after brushing, it may be caused by tooth decay, gum disease or another condition, so it is advisable to have a dental examination.