Competitive Swimmers May be at Higher Risk for Tooth Decay

Competitive swimmers are incredibly
underestimated athletes. Society
portrays male professional basketball
and football players as some of the
“toughest” athletes. But what about the
grueling training regime competitive
swimmers must endure every day? Not
to mention, the constant smell of
chlorine, dry-skin and often
permanent goggle rings around the
eyes (not the most attractive qualities).
Competitive swimmers also have a
bond unlike any other athlete. Every
ASDA meeting I attend, I meet
somebody new who understands the
saying “Chlorine: It’s what’s for
breakfast.” A recent study has
revealed that particular “breakfast” is
harmful to your teeth. The study
monitored 100 competitive swimmers
in India, finding that 90% of these
athletes showed some form of enamel
erosion. The level of erosion and
sensitivity was found to be directly
proportional to the amount of time
spent in the pool.
Chlorine is one contributing factor to
enamel erosion. The pH level of the
pool is also at fault. The lower the pH,
the more likely your eyes will burn
and your pearly whites will erode.
The chemical levels of public pools is
often beyond our control. If you or one
of your patients is training for a
triathlon or you work with children
who spend a lot of time in the pool, be
sure to reinforce oral hygiene
instructions and regular dental check-
ups.



~Katie Sowa, Houston ’15, editor-in-
chief, ASDAblog


Courtesy: American Students Dental Association