Does chlorine harm your teeth and eyes?

Chlorine is a widely used chemical element that helps keep water clean and safe. It’s added to drinking water to kill harmful bacteria and is a key ingredient in swimming pools and hot tubs to prevent the growth of germs.1

So, chlorine is good for your health and oral health, right? Yes and no – while chlorine plays a key role in reducing waterborne diseases, it can also cause irritation or pose health risks after too much exposure.

Health risks of chlorine

Chlorine has clear benefits when it is used properly, but it raises the pH level of the water, which means it makes the water more acidic. This is why repeated exposure in a short period of time or swimming in a pool with too much chlorine can lead to health problems.

Potential health issues from chlorine overexposure include:^2,3

Skin irritation

Chlorine can cause dry, red, or itchy skin

Red, burning, or irritated eyes

Burning or irritation in the eyes is a common side effect of chlorine exposure.

Respiratory issues

Breathing in chlorine may trigger asthma symptoms or lung irritation.

Digestive problems

Swallowing chlorinated water can lead to stomach discomfort or diarrhea.

Hair damage

Chlorine can strip natural oils from hair, making it brittle and dry.

Smile risks for swimmers⁴

Most people have had dry or irritated eyes from a swimming pool, but the oral health risks of chlorine are often overlooked.⁴

Repeated exposure to chlorine can:

• Erode your enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity and tooth decay.

• Create discolored, yellow-brown mineral deposits (called swimmer’s calculus) on your teeth.

• Cause dry mouth, increasing your risk for cavities and gum disease.

How to swim, smile, and see without worry

Don’t let these health risks scare you – with a little precaution, it’s perfectly safe to enjoy pools and hot tubs. Take these steps to swim safely:

• Swim with your mouth closed. While some water will always get in your mouth, this is a simple and effective way to reduce chlorine exposure to your teeth.

• Rinse your mouth. Rinsing periodically while you swim and immediately after ensures the chlorine won’t linger on your teeth and increase your risk.

• Wear goggles in the water. This simple and effective step protects your eyes from exposure to chlorine, which lowers your risk for dry, burning, or irritated eyes.

• Check the pool's pH levels, if you can. You don't need to be a scientist to ask about pH levels. All you need to know if that a pH lower than 5.5 can erode enamel and the recommended pH range for a pool is 7.0 to 7.8. 

Don’t forget about the brush stroke

Swimmers can practice one important stroke outside of the pool – the brush stroke! Brushing your teeth two times and flossing daily will help keep your mouth clean and your enamel strong, whether you swim twice a year or twice a week.