Pool chlorine, lake bacteria, and intense sun all do small things to your teeth and gums over a summer. Here's what's worth knowing — and what isn't.
Pool chlorine, lake bacteria, and intense sun all do small things to your teeth and gums over a summer at Smith Mountain Lake. Most of it isn't a problem. A few things are worth knowing.
Chlorine and "swimmer's calculus." Frequent swimmers — especially in over-chlorinated pools — can develop hard brown stains on their upper front teeth. It's called swimmer's calculus and a normal cleaning handles it. If you're swimming most days, mention it at your next visit so we can scale a bit more carefully in those spots.
Lake water and lip health. Smith Mountain Lake is generally healthy water, but if you have a cold sore or any open lip wound, keep your mouth closed when underwater. A topical balm with SPF is more important than most people realize — sun-burned lips can crack and slow healing.
Watch the wine teeth and the "boat coffee." Red wine on the pontoon, dark coffee on the deck — both stain enamel. The fix is simple: drink water alongside, and don't brush immediately after acidic drinks (wait at least 30 minutes — brushing right after is harder on softened enamel than the wine itself).
Sun and gum tissue. Severe sunburn on the lips can cause secondary effects on the gum line in rare cases. SPF lip balm, a hat, and shade between 11 and 3 take care of most of that.
Salt water rinses for irritation. Bug bites and irritation inside the cheek are common at the lake. A teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, rinsed for 30 seconds, calms most of it down quickly.
The lake should be a pleasure, not a worry. Most of these are tiny adjustments that take care of themselves once you know about them.