Summer of Swimming: 3 Dental Concerns that Might Stem from Your Backyard Pool

Having a pool in your backyard is an ideal way to enjoy the summer weather and cool off. One of the main health concerns when enjoying a backyard pool is typically sun protection, but there are also other health concerns that you should be aware off. Being aware of your dental health while enjoying a backyard pool can ensure that you stay protected through the summer. If problems do occur, then you can seek professional help from a dentist for one of the following three concerns.

Teeth Grinding

Your mouth has the ability to produce a lot of pressure. When the teeth are pressed against each other, it can put a lot of force on the mouth and eventually cause damage as teeth are grinding away. While swimming in a backyard pool, the teeth grinding may occur as your brace yourself when jumping in the water. You may clench your jaw and grind the teeth before you make your final impact. Cold water can also be the source of teeth grinding. Icy cold pool water may cause your mouth to shiver. When the teeth chatter together it can cause damage to your mouth.

One way to prevent the teeth grinding is by having a dentist fit your teeth for a mouthguard. By wearing a mouthguard while you swim, your teeth are prevented from grinding together and cause additional damage. A dental mouthguard is form fitted so that it will not become loose easily and can be worn comfortably while swimming. The mouthguard can also be worn at other times. For example, if you grind your teeth at night, the custom mouthguard can prevent this from happening.

Chlorine

Chlorine and other pool chemicals may help keep your water clean, but the same cannot be said for your mouth. Exposing your teeth to too many pool chemicals can result in multiple problems. One of the main problems to be concerned with is enamel erosion. If the pool is not properly treated, the chemicals can erode your teeth and cause additional problems like dis-colorization and tooth pain. If you have found that you have sensitive or painful teeth after swimming, then you should seek help from a dentist.

Along with routine cleanings and fluoride treatments, a dentist can perform more advanced procedures to help repair your enamel issues. One of these advanced treatments is tooth bonding. When enamel has completely eroded away, a dentist can use a special resin to replace the enamel and protect your tooth from completely rotting out.

Pool Accessories

Using a number of different pool accessories can add a lot of fun to swimming, but they also present oral dangers. Jumping or riding on things like diving boards and water slides can present risks to the mouth if they are hit. If your mouth is hit on these types of accessories, then you should seek emergency dental service. This is especially true if you notice any discoloration on the tooth or gums. This could be a sign of a dying tooth.

Pool floats and other accessories like noodles can also cause tooth damage if they are used improperly. Some of these pool toys may have hard plastic edges that can easily cause damage to the mouth. If you lose a tooth in the pool, then you should try to retrieve the tooth as soon as possible. By going to a dentist, you can try to have tooth placed back into the mouth before the roots die off and the tooth is lost forever.

By reading this additional reading, you can prepare yourself for the rest of the summer and any future summers that you intend to spend out by the backyard pool.

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