Smell Bad Breath

Top Reasons You Smell Bad Breath Under Your Face Mask

A few years ago it was inconceivable that everyone n the planet would be wearing a face mask to visit the shops or even get on a bus. However, the global pandemic arrived and quickly changed a number of commonly held beliefs, including forcing people to wear face masks. It helped prevent the spread of covid. However, many people, especially those wearing masks for a long period of time, started to realize that they had bad-smelling breath. For most of these people, it’s not something they had ever noticed before about Smell Bad Breath. 

Understandably, it leaves people wondering if they have an oral health issue. However, providing you visit a reputable dentist St Kilda East regularly, brush your teeth twice a day, and floss, it’s probably not a dental hygiene issue. 

The mask simply compounds your breath, making smells more obvious. Here are the most common reasons for smelling bad breath under your mask:

Your Food

If you eat garlic and onions then you know your breath will smell. Eat enough of these and you’ll even notice the smell. But, you may not realize that coffee, eggs, and even fish leave an odour behind in your mouth. In most cases you won’t notice, the saliva in your mouth will dilute the issue, and life goes on. 

But, your mask traps the odours, effectively allowing them to build up, making them very obvious to you. 

Don’t forget, that sweet treats trigger a reaction between bacteria and sugar. T’s this that causes tooth damage and creates a bacterial smell.

Lack Of Water

Wearing a mask makes it harder for you to consume liquids and, for most people, this means you’re drinking less. As water helps saliva dilute bacteria, acids, and smells in your mouth, drinking less will make your breath smell more. 

It’s worth noting that the dryness in your mouth that causes bad breath can also occur overnight, especially if you sleep with your mouth open. 

You can stop this by drinking more water.

Medical issues & Medication

If the above doesn’t seem relevant then you may have an oral hygiene issue. It’s a good idea to visit your dentist and ask them to give your mouth a check over. They may find an issue and can help you deal with it, eliminating the bad breath. 

However, you should also note that it’s not just an oral hygiene issue that can cause bad breath. There are a variety of medical conditions that can make your breath smell You’ll need to speak to your doctor to get tested for them.

Alongside this, some medications give bad breath as a side effect. If you’re on any medications check the side effects. If bad breath is one of them you’ll have to speak to your doctor about changing your medication. It is never advisable to just stop a medication, that can be harmful to your overall health.

The good news is that bad breath can usually be cured, you just need to seek some help finding the reason for it and then deal with it.