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Your Kew dentist is here to tell you about the risks swimming pools pose to your dental health

15-09-2012

Everyone enjoys swimming and it’s proven that regular trips to the swimming pool can severely help people’s health. But have you ever though of how a relaxing swim at your local pool could lead to the need for treatment such as root canal treatment? Well, studies made by the New York University College of Dentistry have recently discovered that pools which are poorly maintained can lead to rapid dental enamel erosion.

While this means public swimming pools which are professionally maintained on a regular basis should be fine, those who own private swimming pools in their back yard should meet this news with worry.

The news comes from a report by Dr Leila Jahangiri, Steven Pigliacelli and Dr Ross Kerr, entitled ‘Severe and Rapid Erosion of Dental Enamel from Swimming: A Clinical Report’. The report was first made due to the complaints of a 52 year old male patient who, over a period of just five months during 2010, had signs of extremely sensitive teeth, dark staining and rapid enamel loss.

Taking into account the addition of a 90 minute swimming session the patient started not long before the complaints began, as well as the fact that little else had changed in his lifestyle and no professional maintenance was carried out on the pool, Dr Leila Jahangiri came to the conclusion that the problems were directly linked to the chlorine in the pool.

Chlorine is effectively a poison in high quantities, and while there’s no risk of pools reaching a level which could pose a serious danger to health, unless pools receive regular monitoring regarding chlorine levels it can prove to be dangerous for teeth.

Dr Jahangiri warns: “Improperly maintained pool chlorination in swimming pools can cause rapid and excessive erosion of dental enamel. It is a difficult balance to maintain home pools properly, pool chlorine and pH levels need to be monitored and maintained on a weekly basis.”

Sparkle Dental Boutique, Kew will always try to stay on top of the latest guidelines regarding your oral health. If you notice any issues do not hesitate to drop in for a check up. We have a dental hygienist on hand and root canal treatment and other such restorative treatments can help restore most dental issues.