Smell something bad in your mask?

Mask wearing may still be mandatory or desirable if you’re concerned about your safety, but what happens when you take a whiff of your mask and it smells?

It’s likely caused by your bad breath – sure maybe you ate something stinky like onions or garlic, but the reality is it could be time to take a closer look at your oral care habits.

What type of things can cause this?

1) Food still in your mouth

Brushing and flossing should be top priority because they can help you get rid of all the rotten food between your teeth.

If you don’t have an electric toothbrush, then it’s time to get one. If you aren’t flossing, then try an irrigator or using a floss pick. If you have teeth that need to be straightened, then they can be harboring a lot of food particles and make it difficult to fully clean your teeth.

2) Dry mouth

Are you a mouth breather? Do you have a stuffy nose or take medications? Mouth breathing such as snoring, allergies and many drugs cause dry mouth.

Use a tongue scraper if you’ve got post nasal drip from allergies or a stuffy nose. And you can help yourself solve the snoring issue by scheduling an appointment to get checked for sleep apnea.

3) Smoking, Drinking & Diet

Drinking causes dry mouth and tobacco smoke clings to everything you breath on – the mask is no different.

Special xylitol mints like Xylimelts are designed to provide long-lasting relief from dry mouth and can help offset the effects of smoke smells.

If you’ve recently embarked on a low carb or high protein diet, your body begins to burn fat and release ketones – which have a rotten odor.

Simple changes to diet and oral care regimen can do wonders, but if it still remains, schedule a visit with our dentists here in Hellertown PA.