From Cannonball to… Dental Chair? How Chlorine Affects Your Child’s Teeth
Over six million Australians swim on a regular basis, making it the number one sport in the country. Is it any surprise, though, considering Australia is a giant island?
If your little one is growing and swimming like a fish, then that’s something to feel proud of! Despite that, you need to consider how their sport could impact their health. If they swim in the pool a lot, then they’re getting exposed to a lot of chlorine.
Did you know chlorine can impact your child’s teeth? Read on to find out how and what you can do about it.
Chlorine Can Discolor Your Child’s Teeth
Most of us know that things like coffee and wine can stain our teeth. What you may not realize, though, is that chlorine can do the same thing!
Your child likely doesn’t swim with their mouth open, but chlorine still mixes with saliva. When that happens, the power of their saliva gets reduced. The mixture causes yellow or brown stains to start forming. These stains will be hard and obvious.
If you notice these signs, don’t panic!
A quality dentist knows how to perform restorative services. They can use special tools to scrape off that mineral stain. If you’d prefer, then you can also opt for cosmetic whitening, too.
Together, these two procedures will restore your youngster’s bright and shining smile.
Chlorine Can Also Erode Tooth Enamel
Tooth stains are worrisome but correctable. Chlorine can cause more damage than only stains, though. Research shows that high chlorine levels can cause severe tooth enamel erosion.
This type of erosion cause tooth sensitivity, and it can lead to dental caries. This type of erosion causes tooth sensitivity, and it can lead to dental caries. In the worst situations, a loss of enamel can cause your tooth to break.
While enamel can get restored, it’s no easy process. Right now, the best way to repair enamel is through:
- Fluoride exposure
- Good dental hygiene
- Self-repair through saliva
These methods help, but they’re often not enough. Depending on how much enamel gets lost, your child may need tooth bonding or a crown.
How to Prevent Dental Problems AND Swim Often
So, what can you do as a parent? Do you have to stop allowing your child to swim? Absolutely not!
Instead, you need to focus on staying on top of your child’s dental hygiene. Also, be sure to verify a pool’s chlorination levels before your child takes a dive.
Are You Looking for a Trusted Dental Professional?
Chlorine can do a lot of damage to your child’s teeth, and no one wants that. There are ways to ensure that your child can swim without harming their teeth, though.
To do so, you need to practice routine dental health and pool maintenance. Keeping up with these tasks will ensure your little swimmer is happy and healthy.
Are you looking for a regular dental office for your little loved one? If so, then the Bondi Dentists can help. Send our office a message on our online form now to get started and book an appointment.