Constant mask wearing has contributed to bad breath for many people. Those already afflicted with halitosis have it even worse. The drying out effect that masks cause can wreak havoc on ones social esteem and oral hygiene health.
Masks often cause lessened salivary flow. People have a tendency to drink less water with the mask on. They also may even breath through their mouths instead of nasally.
Without the benefits of saliva the gingiva can become more inflamed. Plaque, food debris and bacteria also tend to settle in and will greatly lead to bad breath.
Bad breath is traditionally caused from a few contributing factors. They may be internal stemming from the stomach or from medical problems. They can also be from diet such as the types of foods eaten or lifestyle choices such as tobacco and alcohol. Mostly the causes are from the oral cavity and the condition of the teeth and soft tissues.
Common causes are:
presence of gum disease/ gum inflammation
diet and lifestyle
evaluate removable prosthetics such as dentures and review proper care
extraction areas not healing
cavities
tongue and tonsillar crypts
medical causes of bad breath:
Constant mask wearing exacerbates the conditions in those with the above previous contributing factors.
If bad breath is a concern for yourself or a family member schedule a dental checkup to be evaluated for underlying causes and to review oral hygiene care.