What is Mask Mouth?

Dr. Ryan Jones weighs in on this new medical phenomenon

Is your jaw hurting more than normal? Breath worse than you remember? Gums bleeding more than they used to when you brush or floss? These issues could all potentially be related to one unexpected culprit: all the mask-wearing we’ve been doing lately.

Particularly if you are wearing a respirator type mask like the temporarily coveted and hard-to-find N95, it may be much harder to easily breathe through your nose. This can cause you to start breathing through your mouth and subconsciously force you to alter your jaw positioning in an effort to move the mask around and more comfortably breathe through your mouth.

Other consequences of chronic mouth breathing (beyond muscle, joint, and posture issues) can be an increased dryness of the mouth because salivary flow can’t keep up with all that new airflow coming through the mouth. This dryness can lead to bad breath (halitosis) as well as dry and inflamed gum tissue, which is more prone to bleeding (gingivitis).

Healthy, normal at-rest breathing should always be done through the nose while the tongue rests at the roof of the mouth. Think of the mouth as more of an escape hatch — especially since there are lots of negative consequences to constant mouth breathing.

Looking for a holistic dentist in Nashville or Franklin, TN?

Dr. Ryan Jones and the Nashville Restorative Dentistry team are here to provide you with excellence in all aspects of dental care. We provide mercury-free and metal-free dentistry, fluoride-free cleaning appointments, gum disease treatment, zirconia dental implants, screening and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, and many other whole-health-focused dental services.

Contact our family dentist office today to learn more about our holistic dentistry services in Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and the surrounding area.

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We understand the importance of having a dentist you can trust. And that means not being sent off to a different specialist every time you need a new procedure. At Nashville Restorative Dentistry, we are equipped to handle the majority of your dental needs from cosmetic to restorative, implants to extractions. When you come to us, you are getting a dental team for life.

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Dr. Ryan M. Jones

Ryan M. Jones, DDS, FAGD, focuses on delivering excellence in dental care and creating beautiful smiles, fighting disease and inflammation, using biocompatible materials, and educating patients about their scope of treatment options. He is an alumnus of Brentwood High School, the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), and the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry (Memphis). He is a graduate and mentor for the Kois Center in Seattle, a world-class post-graduate facility focusing on comprehensive patient care. He has taken the Pikos Institute (Tampa, FL) curriculum, which is focused on advanced surgical techniques. He’s also earned a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) and is currently expanding his digital dentistry and Exocad knowledge in various courses.

Dr. Jones is also passionate about providing for the underserved and has taken part in many dentistry-related charity and community projects.

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Dr. Caleb M. Estes

Caleb M. Estes, DMD, FAGD, is a dedicated professional with a strong academic background and extensive postdoctoral education. After graduating from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville and earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the SIU School of Dental Medicine, he has constantly pursued advanced training. He has earned a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry and is a graduate of the prestigious Kois Center. Before joining Nashville Restorative Dentistry, he served in the US Army as a general dentist and a Captain, deploying alongside US and NATO forces to Afghanistan in 2015. He also completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program with the Army during this time.

Dr. Estes’ passion is to provide excellence in clinical dentistry and patient care while using the best restorative and preventative materials available. Accomplished in both surgical and restorative dentistry, he finds great fulfillment in transforming smiles and instilling confidence in his patients.

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