will 2020 never end? https://nypost.com/2020/08/05/mask-mouth-is-a-seriously-stinky-side-effect-of-wearing-masks/ excerpt: The new oral hygiene issue — caused by, you guessed it, wearing a mask all the time to prevent the spread of the coronavirus — is leading to all kinds of dental disasters like decaying teeth, receding gum lines and seriously sour breath. “We’re seeing inflammation in people’s gums that have been healthy forever, and cavities in people who have never had them before,” says Dr. Rob Ramondi, a dentist and co-founder of One Manhattan Dental. “About 50% of our patients are being impacted by this, [so] we decided to name it ‘mask mouth’ — after ‘meth mouth.’ ” more at the link
Lazy mouthbreathers? https://www.ktnv.com/news/coronavirus/doctors-dentists-warn-of-mask-mouth-trend “It’s just not something we were expecting to see with a lot of mask wear,” says Dr. Daliah Wachs. “As we’re wearing the mask, rather than breathing through our nose, we’re breathing through our mouth” Dr. Wachs says a lack of humidity in the mouth causes dry mouth, and less saliva is produced. “We need saliva to help rinse off your teeth and keep everything copacetic,” says Dr. Wachs. The term is a play off ‘meth mouth’, which is a common term referred to patients who have tooth decay from methamphetamine use. However, mask mouth isn’t as visually glaring. Doctors encourage continued mask use, and say the key to avoid any bacteria build up is to consistently hydrate. “Just because we’re wearing a mask, and we’re not chewing gum and not worried about people smelling bad breath, it doesn’t mean we’re not having bad breath,” says Dr. Wachs. “You still have to concentrate on oral hygiene.” ps thanks for a typically garbo nypost link that forces people to google!
Also found this in my research. P.S.A for all the cunning linguists out there. Your Mask May Be Causing Candida Growth in Your Mouth As if “maskne” weren't bad enough, there’s another skin problem to worry about during the COVID-19 pandemic: candida overgrowth. It’s basically a yeast infection around your mouth. There are things you can do if you suspect this is what’s going on with your skin — but not wearing a mask isn’t the solution. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that the general public wear a cloth face covering when social distancing is impossible to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. If you suspect candida overgrowth is at the root of your mouth sores, here’s what you need to know about how it's caused and what to do about it. Mask Conditions Allow Yeast to Thrive There’s a lot going on in your mouth. In fact, there are about 700 species of microbes living in there, according to the National Institutes of Health. Like other areas of your body, there are both good bacteria and bad (the kind that make your breath stink or lead to cavities), and there’s also fungus, which is normal but can cause a whole host of problems. Now that mask wearing is becoming the norm, you’re more susceptible to mask-induced skin problems. Maskne is more common, but a candida infection is also possible. Both the skin and saliva can contain parasitic fungi of the genus Candida, a type of yeast that is normally present in the body, says Marina Peredo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Skinfluence in New York City. While candida typically exists without causing a problem, a specific species, called Candida albicans, can cause an infection if it grows out of control, notes the CDC. If this type of candida overgrows in the vagina, it’s called a yeast infection; if it overgrows inside the mouth, it’s called thrush. It’s also possible to have this yeast growth in the folds of your skin, such as under your breasts. Anyone who’s worn a mask in the summertime knows that it can get hot under there. And masks offer the perfect conditions for overgrowth. “Candida thrives in humid environments, much like the one created under your mask,” says Lucy Chen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami. “While a face mask can’t be the sole cause of a skin infection, the combination of heat, humidity, and a tight mask could worsen underlying conditions that prompt a fungal or bacterial infection,” she says. The result can appear to be a raw, red, irritated, or chapped area, or a skin rash. The appearance of candida overgrowth, though, can be tough to distinguish from acne, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. That’s because symptoms of this type of candida infection may also look like red bumps or pus pimples, he adds. One telltale sign is that the irritation is in the corners of your mouth. “If you have an urge to compulsively lick your lips when they’re dry, you may be at a higher risk [of this type of infection] if saliva gets trapped in the corners of your mouth. It becomes a breeding ground for candida,” explains Dr. Chen. This type of infection, which will appear as cracking, irritation, bleeding, and redness in the corners of the mouth, is commonly called angular cheilitis, says Chen. Mask wearing is one risk, but it also happens to people who wear dentures or young kids who use pacifiers.
