Do you know that some eating disorders can have devastating effects on your teeth? The American Dental Association has determined that there are upwards to 10 million people that have serious eating disorders.
The three of these that affect teeth are:
- binge eating
- anorexia
- bulimia
Most people are aware of these disorders, and have some understanding of their ramifications, but did you know that each one of these can affect teeth and gums to such degree that immediate dental work is needed to save them?
Two common components of these illnesses include chronic nutritional weakness and an acidic reaction causing physical damage. People who have anorexia or bulimia often have an ongoing nutritional weakness that can become acute.
Some occurrences include:
- Dry mouth. This very serious situation can occur from medication, but also from being undernourished to the extent that your salivary glands swell and cease to function correctly. There is a lot of bacteriostatic activity in saliva and when it is decreased or eliminated, decay and bleeding gums occur very quickly. This is also seen in "meth mouth".
- Poor homecare. While this can occur any time, in these cases it is critical to stay hydrated and keep your teeth clean. As mentioned previously, the gums are affected in dry mouth and will bleed. As they dry out, disease sets in so it is not only decay, but also gum disease that happens.
- Vitamin deficiency. A balanced diet is needed to keep vitamin intake up. If vitamins, especially vitamin B and C are compromised, the gums will not repair themselves and periodontal disease spreads swiftly.
Additionally, there is an acidic component to these illnesses. Your stomach acids are extremely strong. The hydrochloric acid in your stomach is strong enough to eat through bone. In your stomach it is safe, but when people with anorexia or bulimia force themselves to throw up, the stomach acids bathe the teeth and will cause the enamel to be destroyed changing the tooth color and shape. I have seen this many times and will never forget seeing a case where the entire inside of the upper teeth were dissolved from throwing up and the acids attacked the upper teeth.
It is important to be aware of these symptoms and know that there are many reasons, including social, emotional and physical ones that will cause these illnesses to surface. It is imperative to get professional help to resolve these issues and to realize that until the actions are controlled:
- DO NOT brush after throwing up as this will cause the enamel to erode further. Rinse with baking soda and lots of water to neutralize the acids.
- Maintain meticulous homecare and seek dental help to ward off serious conditions.
We are here to advise, help and support your dental needs as part of your team. If you have any questions, please
contact our office 425-821-9600.
Photo by:
Jen and Tony Bot
