Dealing with “mask mouth?" You aren’t alone.

Have you heard the newfound term, “maskne” (the breakouts and inflammation caused by wearing masks)? Unfortunately, along with “maskne," dentists are also seeing another side effect of wearing masks (especially for those wearing PPE for hours out of the day). Masks are bringing with them an increase in gum inflammation, decay, and bad breath, and our North Vernon, IN, family dentist Dr. Scott Terry wants to help you find ways to prevent these problems while still doing your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Why are masks causing these problems?

Unfortunately, masks create a dry, acidic environment for our mouths. Since people are wearing masks quite frequently these days, they aren’t staying as hydrated as they should. A dry mouth is a more acidic mouth, which means that you’re more likely to deal with some nasty breath, puffy gums, and cavities. Tips to keep your mouth healthy while wearing masks include,

Stay hydrated: It might sound simple enough, but you need to keep drinking water, even if you wear a mask throughout the day. Staying hydrated is important for flushing out bacteria and germs and for preventing dry mouth and cavities. There are even masks with a resealable flap so that you can put a straw through it, making it easier for people who wear masks all day to still stay hydrated without having to keep taking off and putting back on their masks.

Maintain good oral hygiene: Make sure that you are brushing your teeth at least twice a day, once in the morning and again at night, with fluoride toothpaste and an electric toothbrush. Don’t forget to also brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth to remove bad breath causing bacteria.

See your dentist: Even with the pandemic, it’s still important that you are keeping up with your six-month checkups and visits with our North Vernon, IN, family dentist. We can remove tartar buildup, which at-home flossing and brushing can’t. We can also detect cavities and gum disease early and recommend products and techniques that you should implement right away to reverse these problems.

Here at our North Vernon, IN, practice, our family dentist Dr. Terry and his team are doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19 by maintaining all hygiene practices laid out by the CDC and making sure that staff wears PPE at all times. We want our patients to still be able to get the routine checkups and cleanings their smiles need during this time.

To schedule an appointment, or to learn more about our sanitation and safety practices during the pandemic, call us at (812) 346-4500.