News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Compounds in coffee disrupt the activity of bacteria responsible for causing bad breath and can even block it from developing, according to research at Tel Aviv University. Professor Mel Rosenberg from the university’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine said that these active ingredients could one day help treat bad breath.

According to scientists, bad breath has many causes including bacterial deposits on the tonsils and dental problems. In Rosenberg's experiment, saliva samples were mixed with coffee extracts. Using tools that measure the gas released by the bacteria, he found a significant decrease in the release of gases that cause bad breath. Once the element in coffee which prevents malodor is isolated, it could be added to chewing gum, sucking candies, or salves to prevent halitosis.