The Effect of Pool Water on Enamel Erosion and Dental Health

Yuetong Zhang

doi:10.54254/2753-8818/2025.AU27421

Theoretical and Natural ScienceOpen access

The Effect of Pool Water on Enamel Erosion and Dental Health

Research Article

Open Access

The Effect of Pool Water on Enamel Erosion and Dental Health

Yuetong Zhang ^1*

¹ Gilmour Academy

^*Corresponding author: tinsleyzhang0822@gmail.com

Published on 2 October 2025

TNS Vol.139

ISSN (Print): 2753-8826

ISSN (Online): 2753-8818

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-395-6

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-396-3

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Abstract

This study investigates the effect of pool water chemistry on tooth enamel. Enamel, primarily composed of hydroxyapatite, is highly durable yet vulnerable to erosion in acidic or chemically imbalanced environments. Among environmental exposures, swimming pool water presents a potential risk due to chlorine-based disinfectants, such as sodium hypochlorite, which can alter water pH and accelerate calcium loss. To model enamel exposure, chicken thigh bones were used as analogs because of their high hydroxyapatite content. Bones were immersed in different water conditions: distilled water (control), tap water, water from Gilmour Academy’s pool, and chlorine solutions at 3 ppm and 10 ppm to simulate varying pool environments. Over a 48-hour period, mass changes were recorded to assess calcium loss. Results showed that pool water caused the greatest mass loss (6.67%), while the 3 ppm chlorine solution caused the least (3.85%). The findings suggest that pH plays a more significant role in mineral dissolution than chlorine concentration alone. These results highlight the importance of maintaining balanced pool water chemistry, particularly pH control, to minimize potential enamel erosion and protect dental health.

Keywords:

dental health, enamel erosion, calcium loss, pH effect, pool water chemistry

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References

[1]. Xu, Jiarong et al. “Advanced materials for enamel remineralization.” Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology vol. 10 985881. 13 Sep. 2022, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.985881

[2]. Harper, Robert A et al. “Acid-induced demineralisation of human enamel as a function of time and pH observed using X-ray and polarized light imaging.” Acta biomaterialia vol. 120 (2021): 240-248. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.04.045

[3]. Habibah TU, Amlani DV, Brizuela M. Hydroxyapatite Dental Material. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513314/

[4]. Buczkowska-Radlińska, J et al. “Prevalence of dental erosion in adolescent competitive swimmers exposed to gas-chlorinated swimming pool water.” Clinical oral investigations vol. 17, 2 (2013): 579-83. doi: 10.1007/s00784-012-0720-6

[5]. Dawes, Colin, and Carey L Boroditsky. “Rapid and severe tooth erosion from swimming in an improperly chlorinated pool: case report.” Journal (Canadian Dental Association) vol. 74, 4 (2008): 359-61.

References

[1]. Xu, Jiarong et al. “Advanced materials for enamel remineralization.” Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology vol. 10 985881. 13 Sep. 2022, doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.985881

Cite this article

Zhang,Y. (2025). The Effect of Pool Water on Enamel Erosion and Dental Health. Theoretical and Natural Science,139,11-16.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICBioMed 2025 Symposium: AI for Healthcare: Advanced Medical Data Analytics and Smart Rehabilitation

ISBN: 978-1-80590-395-6(Print) / 978-1-80590-396-3(Online)

Editor: Alan Wang

Conference website: https://2025.icbiomed.org/auckland.html

Conference date: 17 October 2025

Series: Theoretical and Natural Science

Volume number: Vol.139

ISSN: 2753-8818(Print) / 2753-8826(Online)

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