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“Mouth Mask” is more than Stinky Breath: Tooth Decay & Gum Disease is on the RISE!!

Did you know that stinky breath behind your face mask could be more than a simple, embarrassing problem? Today, more and more dentists are seeing a rise in gum disease. A term coined “mask mouth” is a contributing factor to the increase in oral health problems. Thankfully, there are many ways to treat this and keep mask mouth at bay! Let’s dive into some helpful tips and information.

Mask Mouth: Learn More about the seriously stinky side effects HERE.

Related Article: What is that SMELL?? It may be more than bad breath.

Here’s How to Conquer Mask Mouth

Bad breath is often a sign that something isn’t quite right. When we wear our masks, we may breathe through our mouths more and dry out our mouths. While this may not seem like an issue, when we dry out our mouths, we leave them more susceptible to bacteria growth. When bacteria grows in our mouth, we can experience things like cavities and gum disease. Saliva is a huge multitasker in our mouths and it constantly keeps bacteria at bay. When we lose saliva production, we lose our biggest bacteria fighter.

There are definitely some changes we can make to reduce the symptoms of mask mouth and keep our teeth cleaner and less prone to decay.

Watch your diet: Certain foods can make our breath stink, so when we’re wearing a mask it’s extra important to think about what you’re consuming. Try to avoid coffee, garlic, and onions and try swishing with water after eating.
Freshen up. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. Make sure you’re brushing your teeth correctly and try keeping mouthwash on hand to fight bad breath and bacteria in-between your brushings. Chewing sugar-free gum can also help with this. It also might be time for a new, fresh toothbrush.
Stay hydrated. Drink water throughout the day and try to avoid alcohol, coffee, and sugary drinks, which can cause dehydration and buildup of bacteria.
Use a clean mask. Replace your mask often and clean between wearing.
Take fresh-air breaks. Try and take a few breaks throughout the day and breath fresh air through your nose.

If your breath smells unpleasant, it could mean that there are germs and bacteria that you need to get rid of. Learn More about how to take care of your mouth behind a face mask HERE.

Mask Mouth Symptoms

Curious if you’re experiencing mask mouth? Here’s the most common symptoms to be aware of.

Bad Breath and Dry Mouth: One of the most common signs of mask mouth is bad breath. If you’re breathing through your mouth while wearing a mask, you’re drying out your mouth and causing bad breath. This can also cause dry lips. Saliva is such a great tool that our body already produces to help keep the germs out of our mouth, so when our mouth becomes dry and we lose saliva production, we build more bad-breath bacteria in the mouth. Less saliva in the mouth also means we are more prone to tooth decay and infections. So, when we are wearing our mask often and experience dry mouth, we’re advancing or progressing tooth decay.
Bleeding gums: Another symptom of mask mouth is bleeding or swollen gums. This also comes from an excess of bacteria and plaque in the mouth.

Oral Bacteria and Your Smile

Healthy teeth are about more than just a pretty smile… and what does oral bacteria have to do with a pretty smile?

Your oral health has a major effect on the overall health of your body, not just in your mouth. By maintaining healthy teeth and gums, you can make your body healthier from head to toe. If not, tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections can be the nasty result.

Learn more in this article: Oral Bacteria: Are Healthy Teeth Just About a Pretty Smile?

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek’s experienced and friendly team at GPS Dental offers affordable dental care for all ages in San Antonio, TX area. Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we promote dental health awareness to our patients and provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at 210-633-3477 to make an appointment.

There it is. You’re walking through a store and it hits you – a bad smell. It hits you again throughout the store and you finally realize – it’s your breath. Face masks have made some of us realize that, surprise, we do indeed have bad breath. It’s an extremely common problem, with over 80 million people experiencing bad breath, according to the Academy of General Dentistry.

Although you may have not noticed it before, now your breath is smacking you right in the face every time you wear your mask. Making your bad breath all the more noticeable and frustrating.

Related Article: What’s Up With My Bad Mask Breath

Why You’re Experiencing Bad Breath

There could be a few different reasons you’re experiencing bad breath, and your dentist can help! Some of us may have been experiencing bad breath for a while but have gotten used to the smell and don’t notice it until we wear a mask.

Bad Breath Diagnosis and Treatment process from Mayo Clinic.

This could be due to:

Bad oral hygiene. When you’re not brushing well or often enough, bacteria can build in the mouth and cause bad breath.

You ate or drank something smelly. Coffee, onions, garlic, and foods high in sulfur can make a negative impact on your breath for up to 72 hours, even with brushing. Try combating the smell with lemon, fresh fruit and vegetables.

Sweets. Sugary treats increase bacteria in your mouth tenfold and increase the stink-factor of your breath. Dentists suggest eating plain chocolate if you’re needing something sweet. Drink water after to remove any chocolate remnants.

Medications. Many common medications can dry out your mouth and contribute to bad breath. Talk with your doctor if you think your medications may be causing dry mouth issues.

Tobacco. Cottonmouth is a common side effect to smoking any tobacco products. Smoker’s breath is a real thing!

Sinus infection or allergies. When your nose gets stuffed up, you’ll probably breath more often through your mouth. This can dry out your mouth and reduce odor-killing saliva.

How To Treat Bad Breath

When the face mask bad breath sneaks up on you, it may be time to visit your dentist for a cleaning. In the meantime, brush your teeth twice a day and try brushing your tongue to get rid of any extra bacteria lingering in the mouth. You can also try an anti-bacterial mouthwash, and floss to remove any food buildup in-between the teeth.

Learn more oral hygiene tips from WebMD HERE.

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“Mouth Mask” is more than Stinky Breath: Gum Disease on the RISE