Delhi NCR Smog: Mouth Breathing Leads to Oral Thrush, Bad Breath

• Winter pollution in Delhi NCR is increasingly linked to oral health issues like dry mouth, bad breath, and oral thrush, alongside respiratory problems.
• Poor air quality irritates nasal passages, leading to a shift towards mouth breathing, which bypasses the nose's natural filtering, warming, and humidifying functions.
• Mouth breathing reduces saliva production, diminishing its protective actions and creating an environment conducive to Candida overgrowth and bacteria causing bad breath.
• Polluted air and particulate matter directly aggravate oral surfaces, contributing to microbial imbalance and a cycle of increased mouth breathing and airway irritation.
• Preventive measures include saline nasal rinses, adequate hydration, sugar-free gum, routine tongue cleaning, and using N95 masks on days with poor air quality.

Why It Matters: Air pollution causes mouth breathing, harming oral health and worsening respiratory issues.