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Prolonged mask wearing does not alter the oral microbiome, salivary flow rate or gingival health status - A pilot study.
Au, Sheralyn; Baraniya, Divyashri; Dao, Jason; Awan, Shehar Bano; Alvarez, Jenelle; Sklar, Shari; Chen, Tsute; Puri, Sumant; Al-Hebshi, Nezar N.
  • Au S; Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
  • Baraniya D; Oral Microbiome Research Laboratory, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
  • Dao J; Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
  • Awan SB; Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
  • Alvarez J; Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
  • Sklar S; Department of Restorative Dentistry, Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
  • Chen T; Department of Microbiology, Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, United States.
  • Puri S; Oral Microbiome Research Laboratory, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
  • Al-Hebshi NN; Oral Microbiome Research Laboratory, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol ; 12: 1039811, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2141715
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the widespread use of N95 respirators and surgical masks, with anecdotal reports among healthcare providers and the public of xerostomia, halitosis, and gingivitis, a consortium of symptoms colloquially termed "mask mouth". However, this has not been scientifically verified. The aim of this study was to assess changes in salivary flow rate, gingival health status and oral microbiome associated with prolonged mask use. A total of 25 dental students (mean age = 26.36 ± 1.58) were included in the study and evaluated at three time points T1, at the end of at least 2 months of full-day mask wear (7.26 ± 1.56 hours/day); T2, at the end of a period of minimal mask use (1.13 ± 1.13 hours/day); and T3, at the end of 2-3 weeks of resuming full-day mask wear (6.93 ± 1.80 hours/day). Unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) flow rate, xerostomia (on a quantitative scale of 10), gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI) were assessed at each time point. The salivary microbiome was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Overall, UWS flow rates were normal (mean of 0.679 ml/min) and xerostomia, PI and GI scores were low (Mean of 3.11, 0.33 and 0.69, respectively) with no significant differences as a result of prolonged mask wearing. Similarly, there were no significant microbial changes at a false discovery rate (FDR) ≤ 0.05. However, some trends were identified using a nominal p-value cut-off of ≤ 0.01, namely Gemella sanguinis, Streptococcus sp. Oral taxon 066 and Oral taxon 058 were associated with prolonged mask wear. Trends were also seen by gender, race and age, for example an increase in P. gingivalis and P. intermedia with age. In conclusion, we found no evidence that prolonged mask wear adversely affects oral health. The findings support that the oral microbiome of healthy individuals is resilient.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Xerostomia / Microbiota / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Limits: Adult / Humans / Young adult Language: English Journal: Front Cell Infect Microbiol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fcimb.2022.1039811

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Xerostomia / Microbiota / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study Limits: Adult / Humans / Young adult Language: English Journal: Front Cell Infect Microbiol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fcimb.2022.1039811