From under the sea to under the overhead light—a new study suggests that scuba divers may experience dental problems related to diving. As reported by Live Science, the limited survey revealed that some scuba divers have problems with pain mostly from increased pressure underwater or from clutching the air regulator too tightly in their mouths.
According to lead researcher Vinisha Ranna, a student at the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, divers should make sure their teeth are in good shape before they go deep. The reason—and your word of the day—is “barodontalgia,” a toothache caused by the increase in pressure felt underwater. Typically, the condition occurs when the individual has an underlying dental condition, like a poorly completed filling or cavity. Ranna, who has suffered from barodontalgia herself, conducted an online survey of 100 divers. Of the respondents, 41% reported experiencing dental symptoms while diving, and of those, 42% said they’d have barodontalgia.
The study published in the British Dental Journal also revealed that the second-most common dental symptom was pain from holding the air regulator too lightly (24%), followed by general jaw pain (22%). Five respondents reported that a crown had loosened during a dive, while one reported a broken filling.
Ranna plans to follow up with a comprehensive study group of more than 1,000 divers. She wants dental safety to get more attention from scuba certification groups.
Until then, go visit the dentist before that next vacation!