Department of Preventive Dentistry, Periodontology and Cariology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
Institute of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 31;18(17):9180. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18179180.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of face masks has increased, resulting in potential health-related side-effects. Therefore, the study aimed to analyse the effect of wearing face masks on self-perceived dry mouth and halitosis. A questionnaire addressing the daily wearing time of different face masks (community masks, surgical/medical masks and KN95-/N95-/FFP2-masks) and self-perceived dry mouth and halitosis was given to adults attending or working at a university hospital. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and multiple linear regression analysis ( < 0.05). 3750 participants (age: 50.4 ± 15.5 years; 60.0% female) were included. During the pandemic, face masks were used for 4.7 ± 3.8 h per day: community masks: 0.9 ± 2.0 h, medical/surgical masks: 1.9 ± 2.8 h and KN95-/N95-/FFP2-masks: 1.9 ± 2.5 h per day. The use of face masks significantly increased self-perceived dry mouth and halitosis (both < 0.001). Self-perceived dry mouth and halitosis increased with increasing wearing time (community masks: dry mouth: < 0.001, halitosis: = 0.014; medical/surgical masks: both: < 0.001; KN95-/N95-/FFP2-masks: dry mouth: < 0.001, halitosis: = 0.011). The perception of dry mouth and halitosis was increased in females compared to males (both: < 0.001). Participants used to wearing face masks prior to the pandemic perceived dry mouth to a higher extent ( = 0.043). Self-perceived halitosis was lower in older than in younger participants ( < 0.001). Due to the increased perception of dry mouth and halitosis, people might abstain from wearing face masks. Further studies need to analyse measurable changes in dry mouth or halitosis.
由于 COVID-19 大流行，人们对面部口罩的使用增加，这可能导致与健康相关的副作用。因此，本研究旨在分析佩戴口罩对面部自觉干燥和口臭的影响。我们向在大学医院就诊或工作的成年人发放了一份关于不同类型口罩（普通口罩、医用/外科口罩和 KN95/N95/FFP2 口罩）日常佩戴时间以及自觉口干和口臭的问卷。使用 Wilcoxon 符号秩检验和多元线性回归分析进行统计学分析（ < 0.05）。共纳入 3750 名参与者（年龄：50.4 ± 15.5 岁；女性占 60.0%）。在大流行期间，口罩的日使用时间为 4.7 ± 3.8 小时：普通口罩：0.9 ± 2.0 小时，医用/外科口罩：1.9 ± 2.8 小时，KN95/N95/FFP2 口罩：1.9 ± 2.5 小时。口罩的使用显著增加了自觉口干和口臭（均 < 0.001）。自觉口干和口臭随佩戴时间的增加而增加（普通口罩：口干： < 0.001，口臭： = 0.014；医用/外科口罩：两者均： < 0.001；KN95/N95/FFP2 口罩：口干： < 0.001，口臭： = 0.011）。与男性相比，女性对口干和口臭的感知增加（均 < 0.001）。与大流行前习惯戴口罩的人相比，参与者对口干的感知程度更高（ = 0.043）。与年轻参与者相比，年龄较大的参与者自觉口臭程度较低（ < 0.001）。由于对口干和口臭的感知增加，人们可能会避免佩戴口罩。需要进一步的研究来分析口干或口臭的可测量变化。
