As the summer season moves into its hottest months, the pool can be an oasis of cool entertainment on a hot summer day. For parents, the pool may be one of your kids' favorite activities this summer. However, the pool is also a common location where dental emergencies occur during the summer months. Take a look at some pool safety tips that will help protect your family's dental health while you enjoy swimming this summer.

Avoid Slip and Falls

One of the easiest ways to crack, chip, or break a tooth this summer is by falling on a pool deck. If your pool deck's surface isn't coated with a non-slip coating, or if you're using a community pool, you'll have to take steps to prevent these kinds of accidents.

Obviously, let your kids know that they shouldn't run near the pool (and set an example by not doing so yourself.) However, kids don't always listen. You can help ensure that no accidents happen by bringing along shoes with a non-slip sole. This will keep kids from slipping in wet patches and keep their feet from burning on the hot cement. You can also buy non-slip mats to put down on the pool deck. If you're using a community pool, ask if they can put mats down on the pool deck, or if it's OK to bring your own.

Non-slip shoes or mats are important near the bathrooms at a community pool, as well as near the pool itself. Many people don't dry off fully between the pool and the bathroom, and slippery tiles are the perfect recipe for a tooth-damaging slip and fall.

Consider a Mouthguard

Depending on what type of swimming you and your kids are doing, you may want to consider mouthguards for summer swimming sessions. You don't need them if all you're going to be doing is floating in the pool or splashing each other in the shallow end, but if you or one of your kids is involved in competitive swimming, diving, or water sports like water polo or volleyball, a mouthguard can offer some extra protection.

It's too easy to accidentally run into a pool wall or floor when swimming fast or diving, or to get hit in the face with a ball during water sports. Your dentist can create a custom mouthguard that will keep your teeth or your child's teeth safe during competitive water sports. A mouthguard can also improve athletic performance by helping you stabilize your core, so it could give the athletic swimmer in the family the competitive edge they need.

Watch the Chlorine Levels

Many people don't realize that chlorine from the pool can be a threat to dental health. Over a period of time, chlorine can wear down enamel, causing tooth sensitivity, stains, and erosion and leaving your teeth more vulnerable to damage or decay.

Your pool's chlorine levels are a big factor in whether or not the chlorinated water causes tooth damage. Pool chlorine levels should be between 7.2 and 7.8 on the pH scale, according to the CDC. When the pool's chlorine levels fall below 7 on the pH scale, it puts swimmers' teeth at risk.

In your own pool, you can monitor the water to make sure that the chlorine is at a safe level. If you're using a community or hotel pool, ask about the pH levels of the water to be sure that they're kept at a safe level, and use your best judgment—if the water smells unusually strongly of chlorine, it may be best to stay away.

Fluoride, which helps strengthen tooth enamel, can help guard against the possibility of chlorine damage. If you're using fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash and your tap water is fluoridated as well, you're probably fine, but talk to your dentist about your family's swimming habits—your dentist may recommend additional fluoride treatments if you spend a lot of time in the pool.

Swimming is a fun summer activity, and you should be able to enjoy it without worrying about your teeth. If you take the proper precautions, you can avoid dental emergencies during your summer swimming sessions.