Photo courtesy Pixabay

By Caden Fanshaw

To Your Health

TYH: What is ‘mask mouth’, and how can you prevent it?

Apr 6, 2021 | 10:48 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – As you may have noticed, wearing a mask your breath might smell worse even if you continue to do all the same brushing and cleaning you have been your whole life.

You’re not alone, as more people have been wearing face masks, more people are grappling with a problem that has faced healthcare professionals for many years.

The Canadian Dental Association says they are seeing an increase of ‘mask mouth’ when patients visit the dentist.

All due to an imbalance of bacteria in your mouth, usually caused by dry mouth.

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The Canadian Dental Association says it’s nothing new for them, but for the general public, this problem arose with the pandemic.

“Your teeth being bathed in saliva all day long is really what allows them to continue to be healthy, and more free of bacteria,” says Dr. Bruce Ward, spokesperson for the BC Dental Association.

We have all heard the jokes about the so-called ‘mouth breathers’, and masks have only grown the number of people who are now breathing our their mouth.

There are some more serious side effects due to ‘mask mouth’, decaying teeth, receding gum lines, and an increased risk of oral cancer long-term according to some experts.

The good news is that you can minimize the risk with a few easy tweaks to your lifestyle that start with more frequent trips to the water cooler.

Dr. Ward says keeping hydrated, brushing your teeth at lunch, eating healthier, and drinking less alcohol will keep your teeth happier, and limit ‘mask mouth’.