‘Covid Cavities’: Dentist says there’s a connection between dry mouth and face masks

KAMC News ^ | Jul 17, 2020

[george76]

LUBBOCK, Texas — A Houston dentist has said that an increase in cavities in her patients could be linked to dry mouth caused by wearing face masks.

According to board-certified dentist Dr. Piya Gandhi, breathing through your mouth reduces saliva, which helps protect your teeth from cavities and decay. Mouth breathing already increases your risk of cavities, and breathing heavily through your mouth from under the mask could increase that risk even more. The face mask itself doesn’t lead to cavities — it’s the way that people breathe while wearing them.

“Now that a lot of us are mouth breathing while we have our masks on, we’re drying out all that saliva that usually protects us from getting cavities, and that’s increasing our risk of cavities,” Dr. Gandhi said.

...

There’s no question that dry mouth can cause cavities,” said Dr. Blake Johnston, co-owner of Hancock and Johnston Dentistry.

...

If left untreated, something as simple as a cavity could lead to more severe medical issues and even affect your heart and inflame your blood.

“Any time that you have a toothache — that could lead to an infection or an issue in the mouth and the rest of the body,” Johnston said.

...

To combat cavities when your wear your mask, they suggest staying hydrated, taking mask breaks when safe and chewing on gum and mints, as long as they’re sugar free.

[mass55th]

"My hygienist said she could tell I probably breathe through my mouth at night, then I later noticed she was right."

I also have a tendency to grind my teeth...not while I'm sleeping, but if I'm working on my Family Tree on my computer. I don't notice it right away, and then finally realize I'm doing it.

[GnuThere]

Yep.

[Svartalfiar]

And we’re wearing masks due to the small risk that we will get this virus, a virus which is not fatal in the vast majority of cases.

There has not been a good risk analysis, cost/benefit, risk/benefit, or whatever the correct technical term is for balancing the risk of the disease vs. problems caused by us shutting down and doing things such as wearing masks.

...Wearing masks that have minimal effect on actually slowing down any viral spread, for the .001% that have proper masks and are wearing them properly.

[proud American in Canada]

Yes, they are. But he’d rather spend the money on bills. Never himself.

I wish he would though. Think of himself from time to time.

[proud American in Canada]

Yes and it’s better to breathe through your nose anyway. Your nose filters out germs; viruses and bacteria. With those little hairs. Can’t remember what they are called.

[Moltke]

Oh well, there goes that theory... thx.

[Big Red Badger]

Masks,,,
The New Muzzle.