How Can Eating Disorders Affect Your Oral Health?

Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder can all have negative effects on the health of your mouth. People with anorexia tend to limit their intake of food and drink, as well as attempt to get rid of excess calories and weight through exercise, vomiting, taking laxatives, or using enemas. Bulimia nervosa is a binge eating disorder and is diagnosed based on binge-purge patterns of sufferers. Binge eaters will often take in large quantities of food and/or drink without feeling like they are in control of what they are doing. Potential negative effects of vitamin and nutrient deficiencies can cause the body to shut down and not function properly and that will also be reflected in the mouth. Revealing oral signs of eating disorders include enamel erosion, dry mouth, enlarged salivary glands, cracked/dry lips, mouth sores, tooth decay, sensitive teeth, and bruising and/or injury to the mouth. Those who purge through vomiting can also erode tooth enamel through excessive contact with stomach acid. Dentists, dental hygienists, therapists, and dental nurses are in a good position to recognize the early warning signs of eating disorders, and if they suspect that you might be suffering from an eating disorder they will talk you through the clinical signs they are seeing in your mouth and if needed talk to you about prescribing a high fluoride toothpaste or varnish to protect your teeth from decay. It’s important to remember that your dental team can be trusted to help you and will not judge you over any symptoms you are having.

Dentists Bella Vista and dental professionals are often the first to spot the warning signs of an eating disorder, as they can cause damage to your mouth and teeth. The dental team will do a thorough check of your mouth during a routine dental exam. This can include checking the inside of the mouth for injuries, which can be caused by putting objects into the mouth to force vomiting. They will check for signs of tooth erosion and decay. They will be able to notice if there is evidence of nutritional deficiencies as well. Dentists and dental team members are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, such as enamel erosion, swollen salivary glands, chronic dry mouth, tooth decay, and bad breath. They can also look for signs of physical and psychological distress, such as body weight, changes in behavior, and difficulty chewing. In addition to observing physical signs, dentists can also ask questions to assess the patient’s eating habits and lifestyle, such as how much they eat, if they have been vomiting, and if they exercise excessively. If the dental team suspects that a patient may have an eating disorder, they can refer them to a mental health professional for further evaluation and treatment. The dental team can also provide support to eating disorder sufferers by providing information and resources, including referrals to local support groups, nutritionists, and mental health professionals. By working together, the dental team and eating disorder sufferers can help to reduce the physical and psychological damage caused by eating disorders.