Summertime~POOL WATER & STAINED TEETH

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, feeling HOT, HOT, HOT this Miami Summer day!

At least here in sunny South Florida, the most common summer activity for kids is pool time!  What most parents don’t know is that swimming in the pool can have some surprising affects on their kids teeth.  Yellowish-brown stains can develop on teeth as a result of prolonged exposure to improperly balanced pool water.

Many times we are not responsible or in control of public swimming pools & what their PH levels are at, but if your kids swim in your own pool, it is your job to be aware if your pool levels are safe.  Using a simple pool PH meter can help keep your pool safe for you & your family.

If a pool’s water chemistry isn’t balanced, children & adults that swim in the pool for multiple hours a day are at risk of developing yellowish-brown staining on their teeth.  Most pools are maintained at a PH of 7.2-7.8.  However, if the pool’s PH rises above 7.8 then the pool’s water is alkaline.  The higer PH level in the pools causes salivary proteins to break down & combine with minerals in the mouth to form those unsightly stains.

In a recent study, researchers from NYU assessed a case in which a man had suffered rapid enamel loss & staining to his teeth in a very short time span of 5 months.  After looking into the circumstances of those 5 months, the researchers found that the damage to thte man’s teeth coincided with his implementation of a new fitness regimen that involved 90 minutes of swimming in his privately owned pool.  Further research revealed that the pool in question contained water that was improperly maintained.  It had an improper PH balance , & the researchers determined that the acidic water was responsible for the enamel loss & staining.

Fortunately the staining can be removed by keeping up with your routine dental care.  With the proper precautions, you will be able to enjoy your pool all summer long without subjecting your teeth to damage.  If you have a child that is a competitive swimmer & spending a lot of time in the water it would be a good idea to look at your child’s teeth from time to time to make sure you don’t notice any drastic changes in the enamel.

In addition to our interesting pool water effect on teeth, I wanted to share a cool product that I just came across while doing some research.  The product that I am about to share is by no means in place of ALWAYS keeping eyes on your children while they are swimming, but in the case of an accident or if your child(ren) are under the supervision of others, it is a very helpful tool that can save lives. Check it out!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/386676317984197579/

NEVER let anyone swim alone. Not intended as a replacement for diligent supervision.

You are alerted, so tragedy may be averted.  The iSWIMBAND is a wearable drowning detection device that provides an extra layer of protection in & around water.  A portable, simple-to-use safety system that works in pools, lakes, rivers, and at the beach that alerts when a swimmer has been submerged for too long or if a non-swimmer enters the water. This device can monitor up to 8 iSwimbands per device & up to 100 foot line-of-sight range.  There is also an iSwimband Swim Monitor App for IOS & Android Devices.  This free app alerts you if a child remains submerged for too long or if a toddler enters the water.

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

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Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)