Both children and adults can enjoy the enjoyment of gliding through a crystal clear swimming pool on a hot summer’s day, and overall swimming is good for you. It is a fantastic exercise that gives your whole body a workout. However, there is a little-known side-effect of regular swimming. The chlorine that is used in most pools to keep the water clean and kill bacteria can have much more of an effect than just turning your freshly coloured hair a fetching shade of green. This chemical can actually deposit residue on your teeth, turning them brown. This is known as swimmer’s calculus. This is obviously a very unappealing look and an annoying problem, but there are some ways that you can avoid it in the first place.
Understand Your Pool
The first thing you can do to avoid swimmers calculus is to simply understand your local pool. The main thing you need to be concerned about is the pH level. The pH level should range between 7.2 and 7.8. The lower the pH level is, the more damage the chlorine will do to your teeth. You can get this information by talking to the manager of your local pool.
Keep Fresh Water at Hand
Obviously it’s not a good idea to be taking swigs from the pool, however it is still important to keep hydrated. When you go for your swim take a fresh bottle of water with you, when you get out of the pool, rinse your mouth out to get rid of any chemical deposits that have built up during your swim.
Keep Your Mouth Shut
Make a real effort to keep your mouth closed while you are swimming. This is the easiest way to ensure that the harmful chlorine doesn’t come into contact with your teeth. You could also consider wearing mouth or gum guards if you find in difficult to swim with your mouth closed.
Regular Dental Check-Ups
If you swim frequently then you are going to be at even more risk of swimmers calculus. In order to protect yourself from this, you should consider increasing the amount of times you visit your dentist in a year. For example instead of going twice a year, you may need to visit 4 times a year. Your dentist will be able to give your teeth a deep and thorough clean and get rid of any harmful chemical deposits.
For more information about swimmer’s calculus and how to avoid it, contact Carlingwood Dental Centre today.
