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IF YOU\u2019RE AN AVID<\/b> swimmer, maybe you\u2019ve noticed that your teeth feel a little more sensitive after you get out of the pool. It\u2019ll take more than one swim to do it, but this is a real thing called \u201cswimmer\u2019s calculus,\u201d and it\u2019s just one way swimming can affect our teeth.<\/p>\nWhat Is Swimmer\u2019s Calculus?<\/h3>\n
Swimmer\u2019s calculus is the result of prolonged exposure to the acidic chlorine ions in pool water<\/strong>. Chlorine is very good at keeping the water sanitary for people to swim in, but it also changes the pH of the water if the levels aren\u2019t closely monitored.<\/p>\n Our teeth are highly vulnerable to acid erosion. Casual swimmers don\u2019t have much cause to worry, but swim teams, water polo players, and anyone whose preferred workout is swimming laps could be at a greater risk of developing yellow and brown stains on their teeth<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If all of your underwater adventures are in natural bodies of water rather than swimming pools, you may not need to worry about swimmer\u2019s calculus, but scuba diving comes with its own dental problems<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Anyone who has touched the bottom of a diving area in a pool has felt the pressure building up in their ears the deeper they go. That pressure can build up in teeth as well. It\u2019s called \u201ctooth squeeze\u201d or barodontalgia, and it mostly affects teeth with untreated cavities or teeth that have had faulty dental work done<\/strong>. The building pressure can be very painful and can even fracture the tooth! That\u2019s why we recommend scheduling a dental visit before your first dive of the year.<\/p>\nDental Health Concerns of Scuba Divers<\/h3>\n