Bulimia And Dental Health

Bulimia is an eating disorder that is not always related to dental health at first. As such,it is a surprise to hear what it can do to your pearly whites! We remind you that it is important to not cut back on your mouth health, as this can be devastating.

Eating disorders are very tough to deal with, so here in Los Algodones we want to raise a little bit of awareness. We hope that by knowing a little bit about it and its consequences, it can give you a little push into rising victorious!

 

First, what is bulimia?

As we briefly mentioned before, it is an eating disorder. It is characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by repeated vomiting. This is done in order to get rid of the eaten food from the body as to keep and maintain a slim shape.

Knowing this, we can divide bulimia nervosa into two stages: binge eating and the compensatory behavior.

Usually, during the binge eating, the person is unable to control themselves as to stop the episode. Which is why the compensatory behavior is “necessary”. This behavior however ranges from different habits such as vomiting, fasting, exercising and the use of laxatives and drugs.

 

Dental damage: enamel erosion & more!

Episodes of bulimia often go hand in hand with repeated vomiting, which is why it is especially harmful.

By vomiting the contents of the stomach forcefully, it is normal for it carry the stomach’s acids with it. And as we have written in previous articles, acid is sure to erode the tooth enamel. When the tooth enamel becomes a target to acid, it wears down very quickly depending on the severity of the case. Even to the point of developing strong caries and cavities that affect the back of the tooth in the majority of cases.

With this in mind, there are several general problems associated with eating disorders linked with vomiting, for example:

• Severe enamel erosion.
• Irritated salivary glands.
• Tooth decay and cavities susceptibility.
• Affected bite.
• Dry mouth.
• Irritation and damage to the throat.

Moreover, besides the tooth enamel being harmed, there is also a good possibility that the palate might suffer as well. Lesions to the palate happen when the person uses objects such as combs or even their finger in order to induce vomit.

 

Further dental problems down the road

As the damage in the mouth grows, it can really affect a person’s quality life if nothing is done about it. As the outer shell of the teeth receives damage, the patient will suffer from:

• Difficulty chewing and swallowing.
• Heavy damage on the teeth to the point of breaking or missing.
• Tooth sensitivity.
• Tooth decay and cavities.
• Foul breath.
• Discoloration of the teeth.

 

Tackle the problem from the root

Of course, a capable dentist will be able to stop the damage and maybe reverse if it is in its early stages, but this is no permanent solution. Los Algodones dentists recommend to seek help and support in order to stop the main cause, so you can keep your whole smile for life without needing intervention!

Usual procedures such as dental fillings, veneers, crowns and root canals can be used in order to repair damage. Yet it is possible to avoid them by keeping healthy oral habits.

Eating disorders are tough to deal with, as such it is a wise choice to pay a visit with a specialist. So seeking help is a big step into the right direction.