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No one likes to talk about it but a common problem for swimmers is the yellowing of their teeth. If you follow a few simple preventative tips, you can reduce the yellowing and keep those teeth sparkling white.
Repetitive exposure to pool chemicals, particularly chlorine and bromine, disrupts the natural pH of the swimmer’s saliva. This in turn can cause one of two problems, or both.
The change in pH makes the teeth’ enamel softer. Mineral balance in the mouth changes and yellow or even brown stains start to appear on the teeth surfaces.
The other problem is known as swimmer’s calculus. This build-up is visible primarily on the front teeth and appears similar to plaque. The deposits form a thick layer over the teeth that is often yellow in color.
The NIH has a paper based on studies of collegiate swimmers that describes swimmer’s calculus in detail. Read the article from NIH here…
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How do you prevent a swimmer’s teeth from yellowing?
Here are a few simple tips that can lessen your chance of developing yellowing from chlorine.
Brush your teeth BEFORE practice.
Cleaning your teeth of any build-up before swimming will lessen the solids in the mouth which can promote more staining.
Rinse with filtered water after a swim practice.
Rinsing with water rebalances the pH in the mouth and promotes a healthy environment. Swimmers are less likely to develop deposits or staining when the pH is balanced.
Wait to brush your teeth until before bed or at least an hour AFTER swim practice.
Tooth enamel is softened from exposure to chlorine and other chemicals. Brushing can damage the protective layer and cause early erosion and tooth decay.
Using a pH-balancing mouthwash…
…or swishing a mixture of a tablespoon of baking soda in four ounces of water at night before bed will ensure the proper environment for healthy remineralization of the teeth.
What if your swimmer’s teeth are already yellowing?
In most cases, using a whitening toothpaste or whitening strips can reverse minor yellowing. If the discoloration is more severe, continued white strips or professional whitening may be needed to restore your desired color. If nothing is working, swimmer’s calculus might be the cause. This can be removed by your regular dentist fairly easily.
How often does teeth yellowing occur?
Swimmer’s teeth can occur after just two to three weeks of swimming without proper care. Every swimmer’s mouth is unique and may develop yellowing differently.
If you are in question, it’s best to consult a dental professional for advice. But if you follow just a few simple steps, you can keep your teeth white for years to come.
Read more about your swimmer’s smile from TeamUnify here…
