How Face Masks Are Affecting Oral Health During A Pandemic

 

Mask Mouth as an Emerging Dental Concern

Dentists are seeing a trend of dental problems due to the usage of face masks. According to Dr. Rob Ramondi in an interview with New York Post, about 50% of their patients are now affected by the trend ‘mask mouth’. People who had healthy teeth and gums are now showing new dental problems and it’s not because of unhygienic practices but because of face masks. 

Using face masks has increased the dryness in our mouth which helps bacteria and viruses propagate. Our saliva serves as a protective barrier and has antimicrobial components that help fight bacteria. It also takes part in the mucosal immune system of our body that prevents viruses from entering directly onto the surface of our body.  

The decrease in the flow of saliva in our mouth not only breeds stinky breath but can also put our overall health in danger. 

The impact of using face masks on oral health

What we thought as protective equipment may also be something that can endanger us if we’re not aware of its negative implications to our health. Fine Arts Dentistry aims to keep our patients safe by preventing the conditions below:

Increases tooth decay

Due to the dryness in the mouth caused by face masks, there is not enough saliva to flush food particles in our teeth. With bacteria thriving in the presence of sugar, they will start to breed from the food particles and cause tooth decay.

Inflamed gums

Inflammation is our immune system’s response to the attack of bacteria and viruses. It is never a good sign and can mean that the abundance of bacteria in our mouth is attacking the gums due to the lack of antimicrobial components of saliva. If left untreated, it can lead to periodontal disease.

Bad breath 

Halitosis or bad breath is due to the odor-causing bacteria present in our mouth and prolonged dryness in the mouth makes it worse. You may notice this when there’s a change in the smell of your breath whenever you’re wearing a facemask for hours and your mouth starts to dry up.

Gum disease

Gum disease is an irreversible dental condition and requires lifetime care. It can start with a dry mouth or plaque buildup and slowly damages the gums and bone structure in the mouth. It begins without early warning signs or pain and only becomes apparent when symptoms like receding and inflamed gums start to show.

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