Face Mask Tips For Dry Mouth And Bad Breath

Wearing a face mask has become as essential for us as is breathing. You have probably noticed a foul smell or odor that comes from wearing a face mask for a long time. It can be because of multiple reasons, including dry mouth, eating stinky foods like garlic and onions, eating too many sweets, which increase bacteria production in the mouth, or poor oral hygiene. If you suffer from halitosis, the smell may be almost unbearable. Here are some tips you can use to curb the foul odor for as long as possible.

•  Brush twice daily, for two minutes each time. By brushing and flossing regularly, you can keep bacteria production in the mouth to a minimum. For the best possible results, brush your teeth after you have breakfast and once before you sleep.

•  Keep your mouth hydrated – make sure you drink ample water and rinse your mouth often. Drinking water helps flush out the bacteria, preventing bacteria production in the mouth.

•  Use antibacterial mouthwash – you cannot brush your teeth after every meal, but you can rinse your mouth. If you feel like you have bad breath, you can use an antibacterial mouthwash containing chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride to prevent bad breath.

•  Don’t breathe through the mouth. Many people tend to breathe through the mouth with a mask on. That only aggravate bad breath problems as it unnecessarily dries out the mouth.

•  Tooth decay – decaying teeth leave behind a strange odor in the mouth. The smell is often aggravated because of the mask. If you think the bad odor in your mouth is because of decaying teeth, visit your dentist to discuss restorative treatments.

•  Eat right – When you have to leave the house for a long time, avoid eating sweet foods or foods that have high sulfide-content. These can cause bad breath even when you aren’t wearing a mask as they increase bacteria production in the mouth.