Should You Be Concerned About Mask Mouth
                     Should 
You Be 
Concerned 
About
MASK 
MOUTH?
Mask mouth is a new dental 
concern that more of our 
patients are asking about. 
Bad breath is hard to ignore 
when it is trapped inside 
of your mask. 
There has also been an uptick 
in dental problems in people 
who never had them before.
Wearing a mask when you are 
in public is the safest thing you 
can do during the pandemic. 
Many businesses and 
communities are also requiring 
people to wear them.
Masks can help to protect others 
from respiratory droplets that 
could carry the virus. 
Understanding the concerns that 
mask-wearing creates gives you 
the ability to protect your smile.
How Masks Raise Awareness 
of Oral Health Problems
Bad breath is often related 
to tooth and gum problems 
such as decay and periodontitis. 
People don’t always realize that 
they have bad breath until 
someone points it out. Masks hold 
your breath closer to your nose. 
This makes it more likely that 
you’ll notice this potentially 
embarrassing problem on 
your own.
Simple dental treatments can get 
bad breath under control. Some 
people just need a good cleaning 
to remove plaque 
and tartar. 
Others may need more intensive 
gum disease treatments.
Figuring out why you have bad 
breath helps to make wearing 
a mask more pleasant.
Risk Factors for Getting 
Mask Mouth
You have a higher risk of 
developing mask mouth symptoms 
if you wear one for more than 
an hour or two at a time. 
Full-time workers who wear 
a mask all day tend to have 
more symptoms.
Your risks also increase based on 
oral health factors. 
Those who already have a dry 
mouth or early gum disease may 
notice symptoms develop faster.
The Connection Between 
Masks and Dry Mouth
The main reason why mask mouth 
develops is due to dryness.
Wearing a mask may make you 
less likely to drink water during 
the day. 
Mouth breathing 
is common when 
people wear masks.
Dry mouth is associated with a 
higher risk of tooth decay and 
gum disease. Saliva helps to rinse 
away food debris and lower 
bacterial growth. 
People who have a dry mouth for 
a long time often have increased 
cavities and gum inflammation.
Signs of Mask-Related 
Tooth and Gum Problems
Bad breath is an obvious clue 
that a mask might be causing 
problems. You might also notice 
your mouth feeling dry. 
Gums that bleed during your 
normal hygiene routine are a sign 
that they are inflamed.
Tooth decay in people who rarely 
have cavities is a big warning sign. 
The same is true of gum disease. 
Tips to Avoid 
Developing Mask Mouth
The good news is that you have some 
control over how mask-wearing 
affects your oral health. 
We recommend learning to focus on 
your breathing. 
Check yourself throughout the day 
to make sure that you are breathing 
through your nose. 
This significantly helps to cut down 
on mouth dryness.
Staying on top of your normal 
hygiene routine helps as well. 
If possible, carry a toothbrush 
with you to brush your teeth after 
you eat.
With regular dental checkups 
and self-care, you can protect 
your teeth from damage during 
the pandemic.
Noble Dental Care is a family 
oriented dental care clinic with 
dentists that care about you and 
your health.
Give us the opportunity to give 
you the smile of your dreams.
Call us for an appointment at 
(480) 820-3515.