Eating disorders are illnesses characterized by a preoccupation with food and weight. Not only are these illnesses detrimental to the body, but they also cause serious harm to the mouth.
Anorexia Can Cause Damage to Your Oral Health
People with anorexia suffer from nutritional deficiencies. These nutritional deficiencies affect your oral health. For instance, people with anorexia can have inflamed and bleeding gums. Due to a lack of calcium, they can suffer from premature bone loss in their jaw. Bad breath and a dry mouth are other outcomes of anorexia. Additionally, people with anorexia can have frequent cavities, root canals, and canker sores. Clearly, anorexia affects your oral health.
Bulimia Can Damage Your Teeth
Bulimia involves cycles of bingeing on food and then purging the food. A person with bulimia will eat excessively and then intentionally vomit, exercise, or take laxatives to get rid of the food. We can usually tell if a person is struggling with bulimia because the stomach acid from frequent vomiting damages teeth and oral tissues. Someone with bulimia will usually have worn, sensitive, or translucent teeth. They may also have frequent cavities. Inflamed salvatory glands, cracked lips, dry mouth, and difficulty swallowing are also symptoms of bulimia that we have observed in our office.
Overcoming an Eating Disorder May Start by Talking With Us
If you or someone you know suffers from an eating disorder, it is important to get help. It is never too late to talk to a professional for treatment and support for an eating disorder. We are happy to refer you to specialists in the area. Let us become a strong ally in your recovery. In addition, we can offer help in protecting your teeth. Give us a call today and take your first step in overcoming your eating disorder.
Dentist DC • Neil Starr, DDS, PC • Dental Blog Dr. Starr is offering this educational blog as a resource to our patients. Our hope is hope that our blog will cover subjects that you may be interested in. Neil L. Starr, DDS, PC, 1234 19th St NW #306, Washington, DC 20036 / (202) 293-7177 / starrteeth.com / 11/30/2023 / Key Phrases: dental implants DC /
Eating disorders are illnesses characterized by a preoccupation with food and weight. Not only are these illnesses detrimental to the body, but they also cause serious harm to the mouth.
