Struggling with Mask Mouth? Follow These Tips

Even though New Braunfels and the rest of the State of Texas has “re-opened” since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s another lingering effect that has stuck around: Mask Mouth.

Mask Mouth affects all ages. After all of those months of wearing a mask at school, to the grocery store, or just to do our “everyday normal”, it’s had an impact on the inside of our mouths. Most of us have dry mouths because of the masks. And a dry mouth is a perfect recipe for more cavities, an increase in bacteria, and chronic bad breath.

Even though our New Braunfels dentist and staff are used to wearing a mask all day, every day, most people aren’t. So, what we’ve seen is an uptick in things like:

• Mouth breathing
• Dry mouth
• Limited water intake
• Poor oral hygiene
• Increased stain and tartar
• Halitosis

Fortunately, getting back into a six-month preventative care routine can help. We’ll thoroughly clean your mouth to remove plaque, tartar, and stain. From there, you can make an effort to drink more water to keep your mouth hydrated. We also recommend focusing on breathing through your nose when you still have to wear a mask, and investing in a tongue cleaner. All of these steps together will help to improve your breath, lower your chances of cavities, and improve your mouth overall.

Thankfully most of the side-effects of mask mouth can be prevented. The key is to see your dentist early enough before you develop something like tooth decay.

If it’s been six months or longer since your last checkup with our New Braunfels dentist, call Sapphire Creek Dental today.