It may seem kind of funny or strange to think about oral health and safety at the swimming pool, but swimming pool water can negatively impact the health of your child's teeth and gums. Still, with some simple guidelines, you can feel better about letting your kids splash and play. Here is some information to keep in mind the next time you and your family decide to go swimming:
How can chlorinated pool water cause oral health issues?
Chlorine in swimming pool water can have an adverse effect on teeth due to its ability to affect the pH of the water. If the pH is too high or too low, the water becomes corrosive to teeth and can end up dissolving or demineralizing the enamel over time. Granted, a dip in the pool every now and then will likely not be a problem, but if your child swims a lot or belongs to the swim team, then it is something to be aware of.
How can you know if chlorination levels are incorrect?
If you want to be sure that the water in the swimming pool is at a safe pH level, have the swim club or facility check it out. They should have pH test strips available, or you can easily find them at a store that specializes in pool supplies. These test strips can just be dipped in the pool water to determine the pH level, which should ideally be between 7.2 and 7.8. In addition, look at the pool liner, pool edges and drain areas for signs of corrosion. Worn areas that appear corroded could be incurring damage from improper pH levels.
If the water's pH is not in an acceptable range, then your young swimmer could experience a variety of symptoms, which may include burning or stinging eyes and itchy skin.
How can tell if your child's teeth have been affected?
Be sure to take a good look at your child's teeth, especially if he or she is a regular swimmer. Some tell-tale signs of enamel erosion include sensitive teeth and thinning of the enamel. Also, browning of the teeth is a common symptom, which is sometimes called swimmer's calculus. It is important to get your child's teeth checked out right away, because the tooth enamel is meant to protect the teeth from bacterial invasion.
If you are concerned about your child's oral health or about enamel erosion, speak to a dentist like Killar Curt DDS.
Share17 February 2016
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.