Swimmer’s Ear or shall we say Swimmer’s Tooth
Have you ever experienced extra sensitivity with your teeth after a swim at the pool?Have you ever wonder what is it about water that can make your teeth sensitive? although it usually happens after a lot of swimming to notice the sensitivity.
Chlorine: Good For Sanitation, Bad For Teeth
Chlorine in the water will protect our body from germs that can harm us in the water but if the water’s Ph is not regulated it can easily become acidic and harm our teeth.The Ph of a pool that is carefully regulated shall be 7.2-7.8 .
Swimmer’s Calculus: A Risk For Serious Swimmers
Prolonged exposure to acidic chlorine ions can cause Swimmer’s Calculus. Your saliva’s Ph is usually very close to neutral which is so important for your teeth to survive – as long as you regularly floss, brush and see a dentist for dental Scaling & Cleaning.
swimming for long can result is Swimmer’s calculus which is basically yellow or brown stained teeth. It is caused by the diluted hydrochloric acid that forms in pools with chlorine. This can also result in very sensitive teeth right after swimming as eroded teeth do not have enough enamel to protect them from sensitivity and more vulnerable dentin underneath would be exposed.
Other Underwater Tooth Problems
You might not be a big fan of private pools but enjoy snorkeling , diving and other natural water activities. Yes you do not need to worry about swimmer’s calculus but those activities come with their own dental problems.
Scuba Diving And Tooth Squeeze
Diving in the deep end of pool is enough to make us feel the pressure i9n our ears but diving deep enough in the sea can make you feel the pressure in your teeth. Barodontalgia or tooth squeeze happens when small trapped bubbles in cracks, crevices, and holes in our teeth change size due to extreme pressure. In these cases you would feel dental pain and the pressure from the bubble can even crack your teeth. It is a great idea to see your dentist before scuba diving.
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
most divers are advised to wear a mouthguard (diving mouthpiece) while diving, the one size fits all mouthpiece can be uncomfortable as you can imagine that is because everyone has a different jaw size.
aside from uncomfortableness you need to bite hard on the mouthpiece at all times to keep it in that can cause Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ), which causes jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty chewing.
Best option would be to ask your dentist for a custom made mouthguard for diving.
To learn more about TMJ and treatments options watch the video bellow:
We want to make sure you have a great time enjoying all of your favorite water activities without fear for your teeth. Schedule an appointment so that we can come up with the best plan to help you avoid these common underwater tooth problems!