Swimming in your backyard pool or going to a waterpark is a fun summer activity for many. We’ve all had the unexpected taste of chlorine at some point in our lives. But do you know how chlorine can impact your teeth? Read on to learn the direct impact, as well as, how you can protect your teeth while swimming.
How Chlorine Affects Your Teeth
The purpose of chlorine is to make the water acidic in order to kill bacteria. The PH levels in chlorine can negatively impact your teeth and cause irreversible damage. Individuals who spend long periods of time in chlorine pools can experience these following oral health issues:
- Discolored or weak enamel: The high PH level that occurs due to chlorine can result in stained, softened, or damaged teeth.
- Sensitive teeth: Your tooth enamel is responsible for protecting the nerves within your teeth. Teeth can become sensitive as a result of lengthy exposures to chlorine resulting in temperature sensitivity making it difficult to eat or drink.
- Dry mouth: Chlorine is a culprit in causing dry mouth. Dry mouth directly impacts salvia production which can lead to further issues down the road such as gum disease.
- Swimmer’s Calculus: Swimmers who spend more than 6 hours every week in a chlorine pool are at risk of hard and brown tartar that stains the teeth, also known as swimmer’s calculus.
We’ve covered the potential risks that are caused due to chlorine, now let’s touch on how you can protect your teeth when being in a chlorinated environment.
How to Protect Your Teeth from Chlorine
Whether you spend a few days a year swimming in a chlorinated pool or are in the pool almost daily, it is essential to take preventative measures to protect your teeth from chlorine. Allowing your teeth to get in contact with chlorine can result in an array of issues in the long run that can be painful and expensive to deal with. Here’s a few ways you can protect your teeth from chlorine:
- Keep your mouth closed in chlorinated waters: sounds quite simple, but many individuals often end up with chlorinated water in their mouth at some point. Be mindful when speaking in pools. Additionally, make sure your mouth is fully closed prior to fully submerging into waters. This is especially important to relay to children who spend time in chlorinated pools.
- Brush and rinse post-pool day: After spending the day in the pool, make sure to immediately brush and rinse your mouth with water once you’re out. This will help eliminate any chlorine that may have collected in your mouth.
- Stay hydrated: Staying hydrated is important on the daily, but especially important when swimming to help avoid dry mouth.
- Pool PH balance: If you are a chlorine pool owner, be mindful of the PH balance. A low PH balance puts swimmers at risk of oral health issues. Find a balance that is teeth friendly while still eliminating bacteria, such as 7.5.
- Consider investing in a saltwater pool: If you are looking to install a pool in your backyard, consider investing in a saltwater pool. Though saltwater pools are not fully free of chlorine, they contain much less amounts that are a lot more oral health friendly.
Importance of Protecting Your Teeth from Chlorine
If you want to have teeth that are strong and healthy for the long run then it’s important to avoid things that pose a risk to them. We aren’t saying that you should avoid swimming pools, however you should follow the advice above to help prevent chlorine from coming into contact with your teeth. Not taking preventative measures can result in permanent damage to your teeth, or damage that will require long-term treatment care.
We advise our patients to visit the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa semi-annually for routine checkups. However, if you spend long periods of time in chlorine, we recommend additional check-ups in order to stay on top of the condition of your oral health. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment to check up on your dental health. If you believe you may be experiencing oral health issues related to chlorine, contact us immediately.
