Piya Gandhi, DDS, owner of two dental practices, says the way people breathe when wearing face masks may be linked to increasing cavity rates.
“If you’re not used to ([masks]), it really can impede on our comfort of breathing,” Dr. Gandhi told KTRK-TV. People tend to start breathing through the mouth instead of the nose, she said, which can dry out the mouth.
“So saliva that usually protects our teeth from cavities is now getting dried out and making us more prone to cavities,” Dr. Gandhi concluded.
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