{"id":330,"date":"2017-07-31T13:06:27","date_gmt":"2017-07-31T13:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.washingtondentalnj.com\/blog\/?p=330"},"modified":"2017-07-31T13:06:27","modified_gmt":"2017-07-31T13:06:27","slug":"swimmers-ear-like-swimmers-tooth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.washingtondentalnj.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/31\/swimmers-ear-like-swimmers-tooth\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimmer\u2019s Ear? More Like Swimmer\u2019s Tooth"},"content":{"rendered":"\"\"<\/a>\n

Have your teeth\u00a0ever felt extra sensitive after a swim at the pool? That\u2019s no coincidence, although it can take quite a lot of swimming before the effects become noticeable. What is it about the water in swimming pools that damages teeth? Your dentists in Bergenfield, NJ and Tappan, NY are here with more information about chlorine and your tooth enamel.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Chlorine: Good For Sanitation, Bad For Teeth<\/span><\/h3>\n

The same chemical that kills many of the germs that love swimming in fresh water as much as we do can also be pretty\u00a0hard on our teeth<\/span><\/a>\u00a0if the pool\u2019s pH isn\u2019t carefully regulated. The proper pH for pool water is 7.2-7.8, but it can easily become acidic because of the chlorine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Swimmer\u2019s Calculus: A Risk For Serious Swimmers<\/span><\/h3>\n

Swimmer\u2019s Calculus isn\u2019t the name of an underwater math class; it\u2019s what happens to tooth enamel after prolonged exposure to acidic chlorine ions. The pH of saliva in a healthy mouth is very close to neutral. It\u2019s the perfect pH to keep your teeth strong (as long as we\u2019re also brushing and flossing).<\/span><\/p>\n

Acid, like the diluted hydrochloric acid that forms in pools with chlorine, will erode more tooth enamel the longer we swim. This can lead to \u201cswimmer\u2019s calculus<\/span><\/a>,\u201d or yellow and brown stains on our teeth. It can also make our teeth extra sensitive after swimming, because erosion of the enamel exposes the more vulnerable dentin underneath.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Other Underwater Tooth Problems<\/span><\/h3>\n

Maybe you\u2019re not a huge fan of the public pool, but you love snorkeling and diving in natural bodies of water. While you probably won\u2019t have to worry about swimmer\u2019s calculus, those activities come with their own set of tooth-threatening problems.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

SCUBA Diving And Tooth Squeeze<\/span><\/h3>\n

Diving in the deep end of a pool is enough to make us feel the water pressure in our ears, but did you know that when you dive deep enough, you might feel it in your teeth?\u00a0Barodontalgia<\/span><\/a>, or tooth squeeze, is what happens when tiny air bubbles trapped in cracks, crevices, and holes in our teeth change size due to pressure. This can cause significant tooth pain and it can even fracture teeth. The best way to prevent tooth squeeze is to visit us before your next big SCUBA trip. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most divers know the inconvenience of the mouthpiece design, but you might not know all the specific ways it\u2019s bad for your teeth. The shape has been described as \u201cone size fits none\u201d because it\u2019s too small and doesn\u2019t really fit most divers\u2019 teeth. Despite the less-than-ideal size and shape, we still have to grip it between our teeth the entire time we dive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clenching our jaws for so long, especially when the pressure is mostly on the front teeth, can aggravate or cause\u00a0Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)<\/span>, which is linked to jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty chewing. A good solution, particularly for a frequent diver, is to get a custom-fitted molded mouthpiece.<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more about TMJ and the treatment options available, watch the video below:<\/span><\/p>\n