Friday, January 30, 2015

What Is Swimmer’s Mouth?




As you swim back and forth in a pool that has extremely acidic water, you can’t help but get some on your teeth. The PH of a pool is usually 7.2 to 7.6 and this acidity causes proteins to harden on the teeth. "Eventually, when the tarter continues to harden you may notice some brown-yellowish stains on your teeth," states Dr. Judy Strutz.  There are ways to protect against the stains sticking to your teeth permanently.  

Studies have shown that this typically occurs in individuals who are swimming six or more hours a week.  If the PH of the pool is higher, you can experience eroding of the enamel. If this occurs you may want to double check the PH of the pool to ensure that it is at a safe amount.

If you begin to see stains on your teeth due to antimicrobials and the PH, you may want to visit the dentist more often. Dr. Strutz, "They can help clean off the stains on your teeth before it becomes a problem." You may also want to carry a toothbrush with you and brush and rinse your mouth as soon as you finish swimming. While this problem is most common in Olympic swimmers, it is not unheard of in others that swim often to cool off regularly, particularly in the summer.


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