Why Does My Breath Smell Bad When I Wear a Mask?
Wearing a mask is mandatory in many countries because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Wearing a mask helps protect ourselves and others from the virus. Unfortunately, it also makes us more aware of our breath because some of us tend to breathe through our mouths when wearing the mask. If your breath is unpleasant, you are experiencing “mask breath.” It is also likely that your oral health needs attention.
What Prevented You from Noticing Bad Breaths Earlier?
Research conducted reveals that your brain blocks out non-threatening receptors in a process called sensory adaption. Therefore your nose filters foul odours from your mouth because you have become accustomed to the scent. At the back of your mouth is the pharynx connected to your nose. Unfortunately, when wearing a mask, everything changes. It is similar to constantly cupping your mouth to smell your breath. Your brain might ignore the condition of your breath until you change over to a surgical or a cloth mask.
The Main Reason for Bad Breath
There are many reasons for the condition called lousy breath, including poor oral hygiene or underlying medical conditions. However, one primary reason for bad breath is a condition called xerostomia, also called dry mouth, where the lack of saliva in the mouth doesn’t flush away bacteria and food particles to produce an unpleasant odour. You can overcome xerostomia by drinking plenty of water and rinsing with mouthwash to get rid of bacteria and food particles to help ensure your mouth stays moist.
Plaque buildup is another reason for the development of bad breath. When you have plaque buildup on your teeth, the condition can cause gingivitis, a relatively common oral disease-causing inflammation in your gums and around the base of your teeth. If you wish to combat bad breath, you must maintain excellent dental hygiene routines and get regular exams and cleanings from the dental clinic near me.
When the dentist observes you have lousy breath, they might recommend using mouthwash to reach below your gum line, between your teeth, and tongue to clear the bacteria from your tongue. You must visit your dentist regularly if you have dental plaque because it hardens into tartar within 48 hours, making you susceptible to gum disease.
Your dentist might also recommend other tests to determine the root cause of your bad breath before suggesting a bad breath treatment best suited for your needs.
Is Mouthwash Good for Halitosis?
Halitosis is a condition emanating from health issues such as diabetes, sinusitis, and chronic tonsillitis located at the back of your throat. Halitosis also causes chronic bad breath. The symptoms of tonsillitis include swollen tonsils, sore throat and challenges swallowing. Tonsillitis also causes lousy breath was determined by a study of patients suffering from chronic tonsillitis, and awful breath tested positive in the Finkelstein tonsil smelling test, which required squeezing the tonsils and smelling the discharge. The patients received treatment by surgical removal of their tonsils which effectively proved as an effective halitosis treatment in Western Toronto for the affected patients.
Mouthwash is also an effective remedy for halitosis. However, if you are searching for a reputed brand, consider looking for a mouthwash with antiseptics and plaque-reducing properties authenticated by the Canadian Dental Association. When searching around in supermarkets or drugstores, it is always a better idea to look for the acceptance seal by the CDC or request recommendations from your dentist for a reputable brand.
Effective Techniques to Prevent Bad Breath
Do you provide sufficient time for your brushing technique? Research states that most people brush for 30 to 45 seconds instead of the recommended 120. To clean your teeth sufficiently, you must brush for at least two minutes each two times per day without neglecting your tongue, where bacteria love to hang out. You must also floss your teeth because brushing doesn’t remove all plaque and food particles trapped in your teeth and gums. You can use your dentist’s recommended mouthwash to support your brushing and flossing and prevent bad breath from home as best possible.
Eventually, plaque accumulates on your teeth no matter how diligently you brush and floss. Therefore dental visits are also essential to maintain your oral health and prevent lousy or mask breath.
King and Weston dental have adequate remedies for bad breath caused by wearing masks. If you are concerned about the problem, kindly schedule an appointment with this practice to overcome the issue today.