How to Prevent Mask Mouth

Masks have played an instrumental role in limiting the spread of disease during the ongoing pandemic. However, wearing a mask for long periods of time can have side effects on your oral health. Since wearing a mask is an important part of protecting yourself and others, we here at Castle Family Dentistry want to provide you with tips to prevent mask mouth

What is Mask Mouth?

Mask mouth is a variety of side effects that can be caused by wearing a mask for an extended period of time. Mask mouth could include dry mouth, tooth decay, bad breath, and even gum disease. Mask mouth can be caused by:

Breathing Patterns. A study by PNMedical has shown that wearing a mask can cause more rapid, shallow breaths using your mouth. Breathing through your mouth can decrease the amount of saliva. This reduction in saliva can be bad for your oral health, as saliva plays an important role in things like defending your teeth from cavities.
Dehydration. Most people wearing a mask drink less water than usual. Dehydration can cause dry mouth, which increases the chance of having bad breath and tooth decay
Recycling air. When wearing a mask, more carbon dioxide gets trapped in your mouth than usual. While this increase in carbon dioxide does not have an effect on your body, it can increase the acidity of your oral microbiome. This can cause an increased risk for infections or conditions like gum disease.

If you suspect that you have mask mouth, some symptoms to keep an eye out for include:

Dry Mouth
Bad Breath
Bleeding Gums

While the severity of symptoms varies from person to person, these are the most common symptoms to look for.