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Archives for August 2020

Can a Pediatric Dentist Help Us with “Mask Breath?”

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child wearing facemask for pediatric dentist blog

I don’t want to waste our pediatric dentist’s time, but I’m kind of at a loss for what to do. I’ve had no choice but to keep my six-year-old son in private daycare despite the pandemic. I’m a single mom and I have to work. The lady he stays with is very diligent about sanitation and requires that all the kids wear facemasks, so my son has his on for several hours per day. Shortly after she started her mask policy, my son started complaining about a bad smell in his mask. I thought it was the mask at first and we tried a few different kinds but nothing helped. Eventually, I look a look in his mouth and, although I don’t see anything wrong, his breath really does smell bad after he’s been wearing the mask. Is this worth a visit to the pediatric dentist or should I just set him up with mouthwash or something?

Thanks,

Pamela

 

Dear Pamela,

Generally speaking, masks don’t cause bad breath, clinically referred to as halitosis. However, now that people are wearing facemasks, they’re becoming more aware of what their breath already smells like.

Common causes of mask breath in people of any age include:

  • Failure to brush and floss adequately.
  • Eating foods like onions and garlic that create an intrinsic odor.
  • The development of oral issues such as cavities, gum disease, and infections.
  • Dry mouth, otherwise known as xerostomia, is typically seen in older people, but can affect people of any age. Without adequate saliva, food doesn’t get rinsed away, the mouth becomes more acidic, and issues like gum disease and cavities are more common.
  • Other health conditions like allergies, acid reflux, and certain cancers.

All that said, the vast majority of cases—perhaps as much as 90%—relate to oral hygiene, especially when referring to such a young person.

Sometimes people switch to mouth breathing while wearing a mask too

Although masks do not obstruct oxygen, sometimes people switch over to breathing through their mouth rather than their nose simply because the mask feels unnatural. This can lead to dry mouth too, which, again, can contribute to bad breath.

Start by addressing hygiene

If your son isn’t expressing any discomfort and you don’t see any signs of cavities or infections, start by making sure he’s brushing thoroughly at least twice per day and flossing. He may need some pointers or help. For now, you may want to hold off on using any kind of mouthwash. The alcohol-based kind can dry out tissues and any variety may just mask the scent rather than address the root cause. You can also watch how he’s breathing while wearing the mask—if you see the mask bellowing inward, he’s probably breathing through his mouth and might need some coaching and reminders to focus on nose breathing.

If better cleaning doesn’t solve it, visit the pediatric dentist

Your dentist will be able to help you determine if your son is still missing spots or if there’s another underlying cause that needs to be addressed. If you’re already established with a pediatric dentist, have him go where he’s already comfortable. However, you can also have him see your family dentist as well.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Raymond Bolt, an Auburn family dentist offering comprehensive care for children and adults.

Can My Dentist Force Me to Use a Dental Dam?

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person wearing dental dam Auburn, AL dentist

I’ve been seeing the same dentist in Auburn for many years and he’s been pretty good with me. I have some dental anxiety… I wouldn’t call it a bad case but I do white-knuckle it a bit while I’m there. He’s been understanding about it in the past and worked with me to get things done. Anyway, I went in for a cleaning at the start of March and he discovered a cavity. Not a huge deal—he’s done a few fillings for me in the past and I thought this would be no different. However, the office shut down due to COVID and my appointment was rescheduled several times. This past week was the first time I could get in… suffice it to say, it was a different experience. The only real issue, though, was when he attempted to place a piece of plastic or rubber over my mouth. No warning. Nothing. He just put it on without talking to me about it and I panicked. I couldn’t breathe with it on, started hyperventilating, and then tore the thing off myself.

Well, bad turned to worse because, instead of calming me down, the dentist jumped out of his chair and stormed out of the room. His assistant was even stunned by it. I could tell. She didn’t say anything at first… just sort of stood there in shock and patted my arm and told me to take a minute to myself.

When I finally calmed down… no thanks to them… the dentist came back in and told me that I had to wear it as part of their new COVID precautions. I told him there was no way I could wear it. It sent my anxiety through the roof. He then told me I could wear it or leave. He would not do my filling if I didn’t. I left.

Can a dentist really force me to wear one of these things? I’m worried because, if they’re all this way, I don’t think I can get my filling done anywhere.

Best,

Jerome

 

Dear Jerome,

Sorry to hear you’ve been through all this. It sounds like a horrible and frightening experience, especially considering you had anxiety beforehand. Let’s break down what this device is and what your options going forward are.

The Rubber Sheet is a Common Tool Called a Dental Dam

Although your provider may not have used them in the past, dental dams are quite common. Dentists routinely use them to keep a tooth isolated to ensure a tooth isn’t contaminated while it’s being repaired and to prevent debris from falling into a patient’s mouth.

Many Dentists Are Using Dental Dams to Reduce Airborne Saliva During COVID

It probably goes without saying, but when dental handpieces are whirring around in your mouth and there’s saliva present, they can and do whip that saliva into the air sending microdroplets in every possible direction. There are things the dental team can do to keep saliva away from the handpiece, but none are as effective as creating a barrier between the saliva and the area the dentist is working. That’s exactly what the dental dam does. And, although it’s not a formal requirement from any governing agency at this time, many dentists have started using them as an extra precaution. They and their teams obviously need to minimize their risk, lest they get sick and spread coronavirus too. If your dentist feels the dental dam is necessary, and you don’t allow him to use it, he can decline to treat you. You are, in essence, preventing him from doing his job safely and well.

Find Another Dentist

At the end of the day, this dentist didn’t do right by you because he didn’t honor your dental anxiety. He made it worse and behaved poorly. If he had explained his methodology first or even paused to talk to you while you were struggling, this would have had a much different ending. He didn’t, and for that reason, it probably time to move on.

That leaves you with two options. First, you can find a new dentist who does not require you to wear a dental dam. Just call around and see which offices in your area do not require them. As a second option, you can search for a “gentle dentist” or sedation dentist—someone who understands dental anxiety and will take extra precautions to keep you comfortable. That may simply mean having a calmer demeanor or it could involve using something like nitrous or medications to keep you relaxed while still using the dam. In any case, it’s a good idea to find someone you’re comfortable soon, so you can get that cavity fixed before it grows too much. Best of luck to you.

 

This blog is sponsored by Dr. Bolt, an Auburn, AL dentist.

Our office follows all of the infection-control guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the dental setting, including updates for combatting the spread of the coronavirus. We are confident that you are safe with us.