As the Covid-19 pandemic rages onward, health and government officials continue to urge people to remain vigilant in doing their part to prevent contracting and spreading the virus.

One such prevention method most people abide by and have grow accustomed to is donning a face mask. That said, this important safety measure could elicit an oral care malady called mask mouth.

Mask Mouth Overview

Mask mouth is a discernible dental issue that could have a significant impact on one’s oral health.

Causes

Researchers believe that the condition is the result of several factors including:

Dehydration

Those who wear masks for prolonged timeframes typically consume lesser quantities of water. Moreover, the preceding action might also increase an individual’s risk of developing dry mouth.

Disturbed Breathing Function

Donning masks often causes people to breathe using their mouths in lieu of their diaphragms. In reality, mouth breathing greatly reduces a subject’s saliva concentrations.

Air Recycling

Covered mouths expel lesser carbon dioxide concentrations than normal. Such an occurrence could heighten the mouth’s acidity levels.

Associated Dental Concerns

Unchecked mask mouth could elicit unpleasant initial symptoms, such as bad breath, a severely dry mouth, and bleeding gums. Over time, however, the lack of saliva, increased acid content, and bacterial overgrowth occurring inside one’s mouth could result in tooth decay, tooth loss, gum disease, and possibly even serious dental infections.

Prevention Tips

Fortunately, individuals might be able to prevent the detrimental impacts of dry mouth by partaking in actions such as remaining properly hydrated, using clean, fresh masks not laden with microbes, and practicing optimal oral hygiene.

Additionally, dental care providers implore their patients to be extra vigilant about any burgeoning problems. Should said subjects witness any red flag symptoms, including pain, bleeding, or tooth or gum discoloration, they should seek professional care as soon as possible.

Contacting Us

The professionals at Studio B Smiles want to encourage our loyal and future patiehttps://studiobsmiles.com/nts to remain safe and continue to abide by all Covid-19 prevention guidelines. That said, we also encourage them to schedule a consultation if they experience any mask mouth-related symptoms.

For further information about us, our team, or the many services we provide, please visit http://studiobsmiles.com