Despite this, experts at the British Dental Association (BDA) have said that a deterioration in oral health could be down to a lockdown diet, rather than the use of masks.

The BDA's scientific adviser Professor Damien Walmsley said attempts to link the use of masks to tooth decay are motivated by political prejudice and are not about protecting public health.

"Recent claims on 'mask mouth' are risible. East Asian societies - where face coverings have been ubiquitous for decades - are not confronting an epidemic of decay

• Can confirm. Live in Asia. Nobody has such a problem including myself