A cuppa for caries free teeth ?

Natural products are replacing synthetic chemicals in all arenas of dentistry nowadays. Research regarding beverages especially tea and its components have already gained importance in maintaining oral care. Its role in dental caries is well established. While, Coffee although one of the most favorite beverages consumed worldwide has not been researched widely. Its main components are trigonelline, caffeine and polyphenols. They are known to possess antibacterial, antiadsorption and antiplaque properties. Its polyphenolic content plays a major role in caries inhibition.Coffee is a rich mixture of chemicals, but most of the studies evaluating its oral health benefits are conducted using caffeine. Thus, controversies regarding whether coffee is beneficial or harmful to teeth still exists. Besides, different forms of coffee have shown varied results. Very few studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of coffee and its components on cariogenic microorganisms. This article highlights the role of coffee and its components against caries pathogenesis with literature review.