If we had stinky breath before the pandemic, we often had to rely on the kindness of a friend or family member (hopefully before a coworker noticed) to alert us of the stench.With so many of us wearing masks on a daily basis, we’re often catching a whiff of our bad-smelling breath all day long. If you feel like you might pass out from your own halitosis, there’s no need to be embarrassed, because you’re definitely not alone.By now, we all know that wearing a face mask is one the best ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19.Although it may seem like wearing a mask has amplified your bad breath, we have some unfortunate news: if you’re just noticing that your breath is malodorous, it’s likely that it was that way before you put the mask on.According to Dr. Mark S. Wolff, a dentist and the Dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, wearing a mask is like cupping your hands in front of your face to test your bad breath all day long. Having spent years researching all the reasons our breath can be stinky, Dr. Wolff concluded that “the mask doesn’t make us have bad breath” but that it “makes us more conscious that we have bad breath.”So, what to do?

A comprehensive, consistent oral hygiene routine is the absolute best way to keep your breath free of foul odors.

We all have bacteria that grow in our mouth and contribute to the foul smell, but the best way to combat them is with regular at-home dental care. This means:

• Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and at night.
• Brushing your tongue to dislodge bacteria. A tongue scraper can also be a very helpful short-term solution for tackling bad breath — and if you use it after every meal, it works even better.
• Gargling with antibacterial mouthwash.
• Flossing to remove food between your teeth.

Heads up: if you have bad breath that doesn’t seem to go away, no matter what you try, it’s a good idea to visit your dentist. Occasionally, bad breath can be caused by a more serious issue.  Being proactive about your health is cheaper and easier than treating a more serious disease further down the line. If you have questions about bad breath or want to make an appointment, click here to find the dentist office that’s closest to you.