• Home
  • Contact
  • Blog
Emergency Line 212-267-0029
HealthFlex
×
  • Meet the Doctor
  • Services
    • Sedation Dentistry
    • Tooth cleaning and polishing
    • Tooth Colored Fillings and Sealants
    • Prevention
    • Digital X-rays
    • Teeth maintenance
    • Tooth Extractions
    • Laser Dentistry
  • Children’s Dental Topics
    • How to Avoid Fear of the Dentist
    • Tips For Infant Oral Health
    • Care of Your Child’s Teeth
    • Cavity Prevention
    • Digital X-rays
    • Diet & Dental Health
    • Eruption and Exfoliation Schedule
    • Mouth Guards/Protectors
    • Pacifiers
    • Perinatal & Infant Oral Health
    • Sippy Cups
    • Sports Drinks & Sodas
    • Thumb Sucking
    • Tooth Grinding
  • Pediatric Dental Emergencies
    • Toothache
    • Knocked-Out Teeth
    • Cut or Bite on Cheek, Lip or Tongue
    • Maxillary Frenum Tear
    • Severe Blow to the Head
    • Possible Broken or Fractured Jaw
  • Online Booking

Pool Water and Your Child’s Teeth

Pool Water and Your Child’s Teeth
July 4, 2015Articles

Many of our patients’ families enjoy the pleasures of a home pool, a shared pool at their coop or condo, or the local community pool. Swimming is excellent exercise for both kids and adults and, other than the risk of hitting teeth on a diving board, pool ladder or during a slip on wet pool pavers, swimming is a pretty safe activity. Therefore, it may surprise you to learn that your private, shared or community pool may pose a hidden danger to your child’s teeth!

At most “public pools,” such as those at the coop, condo or neighborhood, a staff member checks the pool’s pH daily to be certain it’s maintained between 7.2 and 7.8. Unfortunately, at private pools, unless a designated party (such as one of the parents, or a paid “pool guy/gal”) checks the pool chemistry weekly, environmental influences such as heat and rain can raise the pool’s pH above 7.8, at which point the water becomes alkaline. The Academy of General Dentistry states that children (and adults as well) can develop tooth stains when they are exposed to alkaline pool water for as little as 6 hours per week. Six hours a week isn’t really all that much when you think about how many of us enjoy the pool on a daily basis.

How High Pool pH Damages Teeth

When teeth are exposed to water with a high pH (i.e., higher than 7.8), the salivary proteins break down and mix with the minerals in the mouth to form hard, yellowish-brown stains. These stains are sometimes called “swimmer’s calculus,” and most often appear on the front teeth.

What To Do About Swimmer’s Calculus

A professional dental cleaning in our New York City pediatric dental office can remove the stains caused by alkaline pool water. The children of some of our very active pool families, as well as kids on swim teams who swim several hours each day, often schedule cleanings every three months during pool season to keep the stains at bay.

Low Pool pH Poses A Different Dental Concern

Water with a pH below 7.2 is considered to be acidic. As you know, acidic foods and beverages have the potential to erode tooth enamel. If your child spends a great deal of time at the pool, or is a competitive swimmer, I suggest that you examine your child’s teeth every week to see if you notice any changes in the enamel. Catching enamel erosion early can save expensive treatment later.

Add Comment Cancel


Recent Posts

  • How much Sugar is hiding in your food?
  • What’s in Your Toothpaste?
  • Most Sports-Related Dental Injuries Are Preventable and Treatable
  • Secondhand Smoke and Gum Disease in Children
  • Holiday Dental Emergencies

Recent Comments

    Categories

    • Articles
    • Kids
    • Teens

    Request Appointment

      Your Name (required)

      Your Email (required)

      Reason for visit

      Your Message

      Latest Articles

      Archives

      • August 2021
      • July 2018
      • June 2018
      • May 2018
      • April 2018
      • March 2018
      • February 2018
      • January 2018
      • December 2017
      • November 2017
      • October 2017
      • September 2017
      • August 2017
      • July 2017
      • June 2017
      • May 2017
      • April 2017
      • March 2017
      • February 2017
      • December 2016
      • November 2016
      • October 2016
      • September 2016
      • August 2016
      • July 2016
      • June 2016
      • May 2016
      • April 2016
      • March 2016
      • February 2016
      • January 2016
      • December 2015
      • November 2015
      • October 2015
      • September 2015
      • August 2015
      • July 2015
      • June 2015
      • May 2015
      • April 2015
      • March 2015
      • February 2015
      • January 2015
      • December 2014
      • November 2014
      • October 2014
      • September 2014
      • August 2014
      • July 2014

      ismileKids

      Welcome to iSmile Kids Pediatric Dentistry. We have a passion to provide optimal oral health care for infants, children and adolescents!

      • 212-267-0029
      • mail@iSmileKids.com
      • Trinity Building 111 Broadway, 17th Floor New York, N.Y. 10006

      Quick Links

      • Meet the Doctor
      • Services
      • Contact
      • Request an Appointment

      Latest Articles

      • How much Sugar is hiding in your food? Aug 24

        All of my NYC pediatric dental patients’ parents know that...

      • What’s in Your Toothpaste? Aug 24

        Have you seen the credit card commercials with the line,...

      Copyright ©2021 all rights reserved
      Developed by OBT Creative