Summer is here, and it is finally time to enjoy the outdoors and get active. However, popular summer activities like swimming and scuba diving can expose your teeth to risks that might cause dental injuries. Knowing how to keep your smile safe is very important.
Swimming is excellent for full-body fitness, but spending hours in the pool every day can harm your teeth. Pool water contains chemical additives that give it a higher pH than your saliva. As a result, salivary proteins can form hard, yellow or brown organic deposits on your teeth, especially at the front.
If you swim frequently, you might notice this issue. Do not worry—you can easily remove these deposits with a professional dental cleaning from your dentist or hygienist.
Scuba diving is a beloved sport that can also cause dental problems, such as jaw pain, gum tissue issues, or pain in the centre of the tooth known as “tooth squeeze”. Divers can also experience “diver’s mouth syndrome“, where they bite down too hard on the regulator, risking tooth damage. Sometimes, loose dentures can even be swallowed accidentally during a dive.
“Tooth squeeze” happens due to changes in air pressure. You may feel pain if you have a large cavity, a temporary filling, gum disease, a periodontal abscess, or an incomplete root canal treatment.
The best way to prevent these problems is to consult your dentist before you go scuba diving.
