Breathing through the mouth when wearing a face mask can cause dry mouth, which leads to bacteria buildup that can deteriorate teeth.
“We’re seeing inflammation in people’s gums that have been healthy forever, and cavities in people who have never had them before,” Robert Raimondi, DDS, told WYRK.
To avoid mask-induced dry mouth, people can decrease their caffeine intake, drink more water, use a humidifier, rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash, scrape their tongue and abstain from smoking, and breathe through their noses.
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