Background: Coffee contains caffeine, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid which are major dietary source of antioxidants as well as anti–inflammatory factors. Periodontal disease is considered as a disease of inflammatory origin and the role of these factors in the treatment of periodontal disease among South Indian males were explored.

Methods: Existing data collected by a prospective, closed panel cohort study. Participants included 100 dentate males who visited Rajarajeswari dental college and hospital, Bangalore. Mean age at baseline was 45 years. Periodontal status was assessed by, bleeding on probing (BOP), Probing depth (PD), Clinical attachment level (CAL). Coffee intake was obtained from participants self–report using food frequency questionnaires (FFQ).

Results: Participants who reported coffee intake of more than 3 cups per day differed significantly on various characteristics at baseline from those reporting lesser coffee consumption. It was found that higher coffee consumption was associated with reduction in both number of teeth and periodontal bone loss.

Conclusion: Found a “protective” association between coffee consumption and periodontal disease among South Indian males. There is extensive evidence for the anti–oxidant and anti– inflammatory effects of coffee as well as caffeine. There also exists much clinical and epidemiological evidence for their beneficial association with a number of systemic health outcomes. Although the beneficial association found in this study between higher level of coffee consumption and periodontal health was statistically significant the actual magnitude of the benefit was small and may not be consider to be of clinical significance. The high clinical significant finding was no evidence of harm to periodontal health from higher intake of coffee and caffeine.