Effect of Wearing Face Masks on Salivary Parameters and Halitosis

University of Göttingen

Status: Completed

Conditions: Halitosis; Dry Mouth

Treatments: Device: DIY face mask; Other: Use of fluoridated toothpaste; Device: FFP2 respirator mask; Device: Surgical face mask; Other: Waiting for 4 hours without wearing a mask

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04914208

FaceMasks-Halitosis

30/2/21 (Other Identifier)

2021-01521 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the use of face masks is recommended / mandatory to prevent infection. Patients and students have reported to experience limitations in their oral health-related quality of life, especially with regard to the occurrence of dry mouth and halitosis, while wearing face masks.

Scientific studies regarding the effects of face masks have so far focused exclusively on medical staff. Studies among the general population are not yet available, but are of interest as dry mouth is a risk factor for dental diseases (e.g., caries, erosion).

Therefore, the present study aims at measuring the effect of wearing different face masks on salivary parameters (unstimulated and stimulated saliva flow rate, pH, buffer capacity) and halitosis (volatile sulphur compounds).

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Oral healthy adult volunteers who are able to give written consent

Exclusion criteria

• Non-fulfillment of the inclusion criteria
• Denied access to the University Medical Center Goettingen at the Corona screening
• Exemption from wearing a face mask for medical reasons
• Medical reasons hindering participants from refraining eating and drinking prior (except for water) or during the visits
• Hyposalivation / xerostomia (unstimulated saliva < 0.3 mL/min, stimulated saliva < 0.7 mL/min)
• Refusal to use fluoridated toothpastes
• Smoking

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Wearing a face mask for 4 hours

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants are wearing different kinds of face masks for 4 hours each. Masks are worn on different days and the order is randomly assigned.

Treatment:

Other: Use of fluoridated toothpaste

Device: Surgical face mask

Device: DIY face mask

Device: FFP2 respirator mask

4 hours without wearing a face mask

Other group

Description:

Participants do not wear any face mask for 4 hours.

Treatment:

Other: Use of fluoridated toothpaste

Other: Waiting for 4 hours without wearing a mask