You've heard of Swimmers Ear, but what about Swimmers Teeth?

For those of us in the southwest, swimming season starts early, as it has again this year.  We're in the 90's in Arizona....and it's only February!  With that in mind I thought it was a good time for a repost of this article on Swimmer's Teeth.

Yes, it's true! Swimmers teeth is an actual condition also known as "swimmers calculus."

Mostly common in competitive swimmers, "swimmers teeth" refers to a dark yellow/brown coloring mainly on the front teeth. This is actually made of deposits quite like the tartar or plaque everyone gets, but is darker and more difficult to remove.

Swimmers teeth is actually caused by the amount of time spent in the pool. Pool water contains chemical additives that make the water have a higher pH than saliva. This causes the proteins in saliva to break down causing dark stains on the teeth. It is said that this condition is most common in people who spend more than six hours a week in the pool.

The good news is that this is not permanent, just unattractive. Regular brushing won't help, but your dentist can completely remove it. Proper oral hygiene and regular preventative treatments will help keep the problem under control.

If you or your kids swim competitively or spend a great amount of time in the pool, schedule a late summer visit to the dentist to brighten your smile.  You'll be glad you did.