Pathophysiological Cascades of Chlorine-Induced Dental Erosion and Associated Dentin Hypersensitivity in Swimmers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.68.74259Keywords
Dental erosion, Dentin hypersensitivity, competitive swimming, athletic performance, sports dentistryAbstract
Background : Dentin hypersensitivity is a condition that is becoming more prevalent and can significantly diminish health-related quality of life. A recognized cause of this condition is dental erosion, which is defined as the irreversible loss of dental enamel due to acid exposure in the absence of bacterial involvement. The acids responsible for dental erosion may originate from intrinsic or extrinsic sources.
Aim : This narrative review summarizes current evidence regarding the impact of exposure to chlorinated swimming pool water on the development of erosive dental lesions and the occurrence of dentin hypersensitivity among swimmers.
Material and methods : This review article was based on scientific publications published in PubMed, Quality in Sport, and MDPI databases between 2003 and 2026. The literature search focused on studies investigating the prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity and dental erosion among swimmers.
Results : Prolonged exposure to chlorinated swimming pool water may constitute a significant risk factovr for the development of erosive lesions in dental hard tissues in swimmers. Regular contact between enamel and water with improperly controlled pH levels and chlorine compounds promotes demineralization of the tooth surface, resulting in the progressive loss of hard dental tissues. Consequently, elite swimmers show an erosive tooth wear (ETW) prevalence of 26–90%, much higher than non-swimming athletic controls (25.6%).
Conclusions : Extended competitive swimming poses a clear occupational risk to dental tissues. Addressing this issue requires urgent interdisciplinary reforms in sports medicine, strict regulation of pool chemistry saturation, targeted behavioral guidance, such as avoiding mechanical brushing immediately after training, and mandatory systematic remineralization screening.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Klaudia Borycka, Anna Hajduk, Jagoda Stańska, Aleksandra Baranowska, Aleksandra Dobrzańska, Kacper Kmieciak, Piotr Szymański, Aleksandra Szymańska, Filip Kostanek, Maria Berek
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