Are Backyard Pools Safe for Teeth?

Pool Safety for Your Smile

The College of Dentistry at New York University has recently cautioned individuals regarding home swimming pools – backyard swimming pools that are not maintained properly can cause rapid and severe erosion of our teeth’s enamel. This loss of the hardened outer surface of teeth can lead to a number of oral health issues that range from sensitivity to rounded teeth to even cracks. This damage can be irreversible and is caused by improper levels of chlorine in backyard pool water.

Performing self-pool maintenance can help homeowners save money, but it does come with consequences. While paying a professional to maintain a pool may cost homeowners hundreds of dollars every summer, incorrect pH levels in water can result in permanent damage to teeth including the erosion of enamel. Evidence of this damage has been documented in an unpublished study called "Severe and Rapid Erosion of Dental Enamel from Swimming: A Clinical Report."

This study was based on a patient who was 52 years of age and whose main complaint was teeth that were extremely sensitive. The patient experienced this sensitivity along with swift enamel loss and dark staining of his or her teeth during a period of five months. Doctors discovered the loss of enamel was due to the patient’s swimming exercise routine he or she had begun earlier in the year. Since the patient had never contracted a professional to maintain the pool, the chlorination caused the erosion of enamel.

When improperly maintained pool water comes into contact with the surface of teeth, it can cause enamel erosion. This most often happens when the water’s pH level ranges between a level 2.7 and a level 7. The chair of New York University College of Dentistry Department of Prosthodontics, Dr. Leila Jahangiri, who was involved in the study, is now trying to raise awareness about the dental dangers of owner-maintained pools that so many homeowners have.

Given all of the home swimming pools that exist across the country, the possibilities of patients harming their own teeth are overwhelming. In order to help protect teeth’s enamel while swimming, it is important to ensure that the pool’s water is well maintained, make sure the pH levels of the water are correct, and make sure the water is not over- or under-chlorinated. Additionally, having a professional company maintain the pool may be worth the investment in order to protect swimmers’ teeth.

If you find yourself in need of a trip to the dentist, you can always sign up for our New Hampshire Individual Discount Dental Plan to save as much as 20 percent on all your dental bills. For more information, please click here. We also offer Employee Discount Dental Plans for business owners offering dental to their employees.

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