5 products and tips to combat 'mask mouth'

‘Mask Mouth' is a symptom caused by an imbalance of the oral microbiome leading to a host of inflammatory conditions. Doctor Gerry Curatola, biologic dentist the founder of Rejuvenation Dentistry, joins Yahoo Life to share what exactly ‘mask mouth’ is, how to spot it, and most importantly how to treat it. Dr. Curatola reminds us that while wearing a mask is more important now than ever, it is equally as important to be cognizant of what may be going on behind the mask so you can properly treat it.

Video transcript

GERRY CURATOLA: Hi, I am Dr. Gerry Curatola. And I'm going to talk to you about a very interesting condition, and it's called Mask Mouth.

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One thing that we've learned about COVID-19 is that our immune system is key. So if your mouth is inflamed, you lower your immune resistance. When you wear this mask, it concentrates carbon dioxide at the mouth. Carbon dioxide in the mouth leads to a more acidic environment. We're seeing an increase in xerostomia, that's dry mouth; halitosis, that's bad breath; and then more insidious problems, like gum disease and tooth decay.

You'll know if you have Mask Mouth if you see that you're gums are bleeding, your mouth is excessively dry, if you are noticing that your teeth are very stained. Mask Mouth is a symptom. The root cause is an imbalance in this natural ecology, which we call the oral microbiome. When that occurs, we see a whole host of inflammatory conditions.

And there are things that we're going to help you with that you can use right at home. First and foremost, stay away from detergent toothpaste. This product, Revitin, is a product that's so natural you can eat it. You can take a drop of that and eat it. Revitin has a whole bunch of vitamins and minerals to reduce inflammation in the mouth dramatically, even stop bleeding of gums. You can brush with Revitin. You can also apply it to your gums before you go to sleep.

The second product is a product that's fantastic for the gut. And it's called MegaSporeBiotic by Microbiome Labs. Everyone right now wearing a mask should be taking probiotics for the gut, because if the bacteria in the mouth go out of balance, the bacteria in the gut are also going to go out of balance.

This is glutathione. It helps push toxins out. It is a powerful anti-microbial antioxidant and protector of the body and the mouth. This spray goes sublingually under your tongue.

Now, we get to my dynamic duo. This is a product-- Optimal C. This has been really helpful for fighting viruses and especially COVID-19. But vitamin C and zinc, together, are the magic combo. These are dissolvable lozenges. These are by Source Naturals. Your immune system is the best defense.

Treat your gums like your skin. Hydrate. Drink lots of water. Avoid snacking and sugar intake. Snacking in between meals just helps disturb the microbiome. Make sure you're having professional dental cleanings. Make sure you're seeing your dentist. Hope this has been really helpful for you. Wish you all the best, and smile for life.