Here Is Why Your Breath Smells Bad While Wearing a Mask

By Nsunjo Erica

Have you noticed the change in your breath scent while wearing a mask? Many people are realizing that their breath isn’t quite as fresh as it seemed before the masks were made compulsory.

According to dentists, when you’re using a surgical mask, you’re breathing on it and your respiratory particles land on the mask. The bacteria in those particles can then grow and cause a disgusting odor.

Doctors recommend that if you absolutely must, it is okay to wear a disposable mask more than once, as long as you’re being careful not to contaminate yourself.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, over 80 million people have reported unusual cases of bad breath while wearing their masks. Here is why.

Not taking water

Drinking water regularly allows bacteria from leftover food particles in your mouth to be washed away before they multiply and cause your breath to smell. However, the all-day wearing a mask grabs from you the opportunity to regularly drink water.

Leftover Food Particles

When food gets trapped between your teeth and gums, bacteria will start breaking it down, leaving a stink behind. So when we breathe, the moist and sometimes fetid air hits our masks and as this air evaporates, it leaves behind a stench that when it hits the mask shoots right back up into our nostrils.

Mouth breathers

At night, saliva production is decreased because your mouth is open all night during Mouth breathing or snoring, making your breath even fouler than the normal “morning breath”. The best way to combat the mouth breathing stench is to drink lots of water, the worst part is having to wear a mask the whole day and not being able to take enough water accordingly.

Inhaling own breath

As you wear a face mask and inhale your own breath immediately as it leaves your mouth, you can get an idea of just how bad it is, this is because the mask lessens the spread of your breath, preventing your disgusting mouth air from circulating for you to inhale fresh air.