If Your Breath Smells Worse These Days... Try Changing Your Mask Quickly

As mask-wearing has become a daily routine due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, a study has found that wearing masks for extended periods increases bacteria that cause bad breath, worsening halitosis. Experts recommend frequently changing masks and maintaining oral hygiene through brushing and gargling.

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Professor Lee Yeon-hee of the Department of Oral Medicine at Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital published a research paper in the February issue of the international journal Scientific Reports, analyzing bacteria inside masks to confirm the correlation between mask-wearing and bad breath.

Professor Lee's research team investigated oral microorganisms in the saliva and inner surface of masks of 50 patients who wore masks for more than three hours daily, dividing them into two groups: 25 patients without bad breath and 25 patients with bad breath. They also collected oral bacteria responsible for halitosis and measured the presence and quantity of bacterial species using the Real Time-PCR method.

The study results showed that methyl mercaptan (a colorless gas with a rotten odor), a major cause of bad breath, was detected in higher amounts in patients with halitosis. The levels were proportional to the duration of mask-wearing. This indicates that the longer the mask is worn, the higher the amount of bacteria causing bad breath. The increase was mainly attributed to key gram-negative anaerobic bacteria among oral microorganisms.

Professor Lee explained, "Observing the increasing number of patients concerned about their bad breath after wearing masks, we hypothesized that bacteria could grow on the inner surface of masks and that patients who already had halitosis might experience worsening symptoms. This hypothesis led to the initiation of this study." She added, "Although the mask mandate has been adjusted, if you have bad breath, we recommend regularly changing masks and focusing on improving oral hygiene through brushing and antimicrobial gargling."

Citizens wearing masks while commuting to work. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

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Meanwhile, with the lifting of the mask mandate, more people are worried about bad breath, leading to a surge in demand for oral care products. According to convenience store GS25, sales of halitosis management products last month saw significant increases compared to the previous year: spray-type breath fresheners (187.1%), toothpaste (90.6%), portable toothbrush and toothpaste sets (84.9%), oral rinses (63.0%), and toothbrushes (43.0%).

Online retailer Gmarket also reported that from January 30 to February 22, sales of portable toothbrush and toothpaste sets increased by 39% compared to the same period last year. Sales of dental floss and interdental brushes rose by 13%, tongue cleaners by 34%, breath fresheners by 15%, mouthwash by 42%, and teeth whitening products by 28%.

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