Eating Disorders and Teeth
The damaging effects on the body’s organs from eating disorders are well known, but the nutrient-starving effects of anorexia and bulimia can be equally detrimental to teeth and gums.
Anorexia and bulimia are two of the most commonly diagnosed eating disorders. Anorexia generally is associated with an obsessive desire to be thin and results in dangerously low body weight from forced vomiting after meals and voluntary starvation. Bulimia often is diagnosed in association with anorexia and involves regular purging after meals.
When a person suffers from an eating disorder, the body is not able to get the vitamins, proteins and nutrients it needs to be healthy. In extreme cases, malnutrition can be so pervasive that it can cause organs to fail and ultimately lead to death. In the process, a person’s teeth can sustain serious damage that can result in unsightly tooth decay and loss, gum disease and other problems that require dental attention or they will worsen and spread infection.
Eating disorders damage the teeth in several ways. First, they deprive the body of substances that promote growth and overall health. Without a balanced diet that has the proper percentages of vitamins, minerals and proteins, the teeth and gums will weaken. In this state, it is easier for infection to thrive. Self-induced vomiting to expel unwanted food that has been consumed exposes the teeth and gum to harmful stomach acids that can cause the teeth’s enamel to erode to the dentin which causes pronounced sensitivity and tooth pain.
People living with an eating disorder will frequently experience discomfort and pain in the oral areas and swollen salivary glands. This can result in the jaw taking on a wider shape and can lead to bone stress. In addition to the tenderness, eating disorders cause bad breath, lack of sufficient saliva, tooth enamel erosion, sores and abscesses, teeth that are sensitive to hot and cold stimulation and dry, cracked lips.
For reasons of physical health and emotional well-being, correcting damaged teeth and gums is an imperative part of the healing process when recovering from an eating disorder. In most cases, teeth and gums that have been negatively impacted by the effects of an eating disorder will require professional attention and treatment. But restorative measures should not be undertaken until the underlying problem is dealt with appropriately.
Until treatment for the specific eating disorder being experienced is completed, there are some things that can be done to lessen the damage to teeth and gums from eating disorders. A regular dental hygiene program that includes brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing will help control bacteria and tooth decay. But never brush teeth immediately following a vomiting episode as this can damage the enamel that has softened temporarily in the wake of the purging action. Instead, rinse the mouth with water or a fluoride rinse. Other dental applications such as topical sealants and mouth guards can be extremely effective in countering the devastating effects on the teeth and gums from eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.