Dental Erosion The Effect of Eating Disorders on Healthy Teeth
Dental erosion is inevitable if you have bulimia or anorexia, purging type, or you vomit within the course of any of the eating disorders. Serious dental problems result, causing discomfort, sensitivity and pain in the teeth, mouth and gums. It is difficult to maintain healthy teeth when you are constantly bathing the teeth in stomach acid ... the key ingredient to ruining great teeth.
Statistics
Studies indicate that up to 89% of people who are bulimic eventually show some signs of tooth decay. This is because of the stomach acids that enter the mouth as a result of purging.
Dental Erosion and Consequences of Eating Disorders
The enamel on the teeth gets worn away
Teeth look dark as a result of enamel loss
Teeth appear to be clear or see-through
Filings appear to be raised due to enamel loss
Striations may appear on the teeth (also a wearing away of the enamel) due to brushing immediately after purging
Teeth become sensitive to temperature - hot and cold foods can cause pain in the teeth
Teeth become soft
Teeth become brittle and can break easily
Teeth can become jagged
Gums can become red and swollen, often a sign of gingivitis
The mouth can be extremely dry (due to dehydration)
Salivary glands can become swollen and enlarged
The inside of the tooth - the pulp - can become exposed, leading to infection and sometimes "pulp death," at which point the tooth will need to either have a root canal or it will need to be taken out
Nerves can be exposed, increasing sensitivity and the possibility of infection
Eventually, some or all of the teeth may be lost, depending on the severity of the tooth decay
What can be done to prevent dental erosion?
I do not support purging. But clearly, there will be some who come here and read this information and they will still purge. I have told many clients the same information I am going to share here, with this caveat - I do not want you to continue to purge. However, if you are going to do so, please at least follow these important guidelines to protect your oral health:
NEVER brush immediately after purging
Rinse your mouth with water immediately after purging
If you ruminate (if you don't know what that is, then you don't do it), rinse your mouth out with water frequently
Brush at least two times daily, no less than an hour after purging or rumination
Brush gently, especially along the gum line
Floss regularly, again, no less than an hour after purging or rumination
Avoid acidic and caffeinated drinks immediately after purging
Avoid smoking cigarettes immediately after purging
You can prevent significant dental erosion if you follow the advice above. I'm not saying you will save your teeth if you follow my advice ... you just won't make it a lot worse by doing the wrong things.
For more information on dental erosion and eating disorders ...
