Can Pool Chlorine Cause a Child's Teeth to Turn Yellow?
For children, a swimming pool and a long, hot summer are a recipe for months of enjoyment in crystal clear and inviting waters. However, when a pool's water chemistry isn't balanced, issues can arise, especially if kids spend hours a day in that pool. For example, kids and adults can develop yellowish-brown staining on their teeth from long exposure to swimming pool water. However, the cause of yellow teeth in kids and adults isn't swimming pool chlorine but incorrect pH levels. Does this Spark an idea?
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Chemical Balances
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In chlorine-sanitized pools, chlorine levels should be at 1 to 3 parts per million (ppm); 1 to 3 ppm of chlorine in a swimming pool isn't nearly enough to cause issues with yellowing teeth. Tooth enamel is a hardy substance that isn't thrown off by low levels of chlorine. However, pools that suffer from unbalanced pH levels can be too acidic or alkaline. High acidity or alkalinity in a swimming pool can negatively affect a swimmer's tooth enamel, unfortunately.
pH Alkalinity
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Swimming pool pH should be maintained at 7.2 to 7.8, with 7.4 to 7.6 being best. Swimming pool pH levels above 7.8 mean the pool's water will be alkaline. A March 2007 article by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) identified issues with swimmers' teeth that revolved around yellowish-browning staining. The AGD found that swimmers in alkaline pools (above 7.8) who were swimming six or more hours per week risked yellowish-brown staining of their teeth.
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pH Acidity
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When swimming pool pH declines below 7.2, the water is acidic and can also affect tooth enamel. For example, a 2008 review in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association discussed the case of a woman who swam in a possibly acidic pool. Unfortunately, the low pH of the swimming pool quickly affected the woman's tooth enamel, eroding it greatly in under two weeks. Fortunately, a swimming pool would have to be extremely acidic to cause anything other than yellowish tooth discoloration.
Maintaining Balance
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Besides measuring swimming pool chlorine levels and keeping them at recommended levels, pool owners must also keep pool pH properly balanced. Swimming pool owners should measure and then adjust pH levels immediately if they're out of balance. Pool pH can be raised with sodium carbonate (soda ash) and lowered with muriatic acid (MA). Many types of pool chlorine are alkaline, so lowering pH is often more necessary than raising it. Use both soda ash and MA only according to directions.
Considerations
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Yellow or yellowish-brown staining on the teeth of a child who swims frequently is a result of tartar buildup created by pool pH imbalances. The AGD recommends that high-frequency users of swimming pools increase dental visits to three to four times per year. Also, always brush your teeth after swimming to help restore their own pH levels. Clearing tarter from teeth can often be accomplished by a simple dental cleaning procedure conducted by a dentist or hygienist.
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References
- Academy of General Dentistry; Swimmers Risk Stained Smiles...Teeth; March 2007
- Journal of the Canadian Dental Assoc.; Rapid and Severe...Report; Colin Dawes, et al.; May 2008
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control; Erosion of Dental Enamel Among...Swimmers - Virginia; July 22, 1983
- DentalFearCentral.org: What is Deep Cleaning (Deep Scaling and Root Planing)?
- AHPerformance: A Guide to Balancing Pool Water
- N.C. Dept. of Environmental Health: Water Chemistry of Swimming Pools - pH
Resources
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