Most importantly, I believe it is essential that the dental professional use direct communication and clear language to confront patients in a gentle way about the unusual damage eating disorders inflict on their teeth. When talking to patients, directly mention an eating disorder as a possible cause for the damage.
Table of Contents
Can a dentist notice bulimia?
 In fact, a visit to the dentist could uncover the presence of two of the most prominent eating disorders, bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.
How long do you have to be bulimic for a dentist to notice?
Dentists can be the ‘first line of defense’ Tooth decay, gum deterioration, and halitosis — among other symptoms — are potential red flags or “mouth warning signs” that can be apparent in as little as six months after disordered eating behaviors begin.
What do dentists do for bulimia?
Once purging has stopped, teeth can be repaired using various methods, and depending on the severity of the damage. One treatment option is composite filling restorations or white fillings, porcelain laminates, or full crowns.
Do dentists know if you have an eating disorder?
Individuals suffering from eating disorders typically hide their disease, making it difficult for their doctors to detect. However, a dentist can see the signs that indicate eating disorders, such as ulcers and redness, which patients just can’t disguise.
Does bulimia cause rotten teeth?
For those with bulimia, harsh stomach acid from frequent vomiting wears away tooth enamel increasing the risk of tooth decay; and the effects of anorexia, especially the lack of nutrients consumed, can weaken the jaw bone which also weakens teeth and leads to tooth loss.
Can your esophagus heal after bulimia?
Treating Bulimia Damage to the esophagus can be treated. However, full healing is not possible until the bulimic stops vomiting. Ulcers can be treated with medications, including antibiotics. Surgery can usually repair esophageal ruptures.
How do teeth heal after bulimia?
If you struggle with bulimia, you can further protect your teeth by keeping a solution of baking soda and water in the refrigerator. When swished in the oral cavity immediately after vomiting, this solution can neutralize hydrochloric acid and help prevent the most severe erosion.
How can doctors detect bulimia?
If your primary care provider suspects you have bulimia, he or she will typically: Talk to you about your eating habits, weight-loss methods and physical symptoms. Do a physical exam. Request blood and urine tests.
Does bulimia cause permanent damage?
Like all eating disorders, bulimia is a serious illness. It can permanently damage your body and can even be deadly. People with bulimia will often eat large amounts of food, or binge, and then try to get rid of the calories in what is called a purge.
Do bulimics lose their teeth?
Cavities. The acids from frequent vomiting can wear away so much tooth enamel that they leave a hole, or cavity. Bingeing on sugary foods and sodas can also contribute to tooth decay. When you have dental decay, you may notice that your gums bleed when you brush them.
Can you reverse damage from bulimia?
If treated swiftly and correctly, individuals are able to experience recovery and healing, along with the reversal of most, but not all, of the physical consequences. However, without professional treatment, bulimia nervosa may be life-threatening.
What does bulimia do to your brain?
By studying the brain scans of women with and without bulimia, researchers have discovered that their brains react differently to food cues. They found that, in women with bulimia, there is less blood flow in a part of the brain that is linked to self-thinking.
What does bulimia do to your heart?
Frequent purging can cause dehydration. This leads to weak muscles and extreme fatigue. It can also throw your electrolytes out of balance and put strain on your heart. This can cause an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), and in some severe cases, a weakened heart muscle and heart failure.
Can bulimia cause root canal?
While your teen’s dentist can certainly fill a cavity caused by acid erosion, if the teen continues to purge by vomiting, the decay is likely to persist. This could cause the filling to loosen and eventually lead to the need for root canals, crowns, and perhaps even dental implants to replace badly damaged teeth.
Why does bulimia make your face puffy?
Puffy face People with bulimia nervosa may develop swollen parotid glands because of their repeated purging. These glands are just in front of the ears and may cause swelling in the face.
Does bulimia cause gum recession?
The most common purging behavior is intentional vomiting. This exposes the teeth to high amounts of stomach acid, which can lead to the rapid destruction of the dental enamel and damage gums. The acid can lead to receding gums, and once the gums have receded, they won’t grow back.
Which is a dental complication associated with purging?
Repeated vomiting episodes cause stomach acid to wear away at the tooth enamel, more commonly effecting the lingual (tongue) side of the teeth. Teeth may chip or become so thin that they appear translucent. Cavity risk increases and more serious consequences may also occur. If left untreated, tooth loss may occur.
Does bulimia cause hair loss?
Bulimia nervosa affects the body’s integumentary system, including skin, nails, and hair. (1) Frequent purging episodes associated with BN can cause dehydration. When the body doesn’t have enough water, it can result in hair changes, including hair loss.
What is bulimia face?
When a person has been engaging in self-induced vomiting regularly and they suddenly stop engaging in the behaviour, their salivary glands in front of their ears (cheeks) may begin to swell. This makes their cheeks look swollen.
Is bulimia a mental disease?
Bulimia nervosa (commonly known as bulimia) is an eating disorder and serious mental health problem. Someone with bulimia might feel parts of their lives are out of control and use purging to give them a sense of control. Bulimia is a serious condition that can cause long-term damage, but help is available.
Can bulimia affect your eyes?
Anorexia and bulimia can do measurable and likely irreversible damage to women’s eyes, researchers in Greece have found. In a small study whose results were published online in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, Marilita M.
How long should you wait to brush your teeth after vomiting?
Contrary to how yucky it may feel, it’s not great to brush your teeth right after vomiting. It’s best to swish water around your mouth with a touch of baking soda after vomiting. We recommend waiting at least 30 minutes before brushing. Brushing immediately after rubs the stomach acid on teeth.
How do I fix my teeth after vomiting?
“When you vomit, stomach acids are coming in contact with your teeth and coating them,” he says. “If you brush too soon, you’re just rubbing that acid all over the hard outer shell of your teeth.” Instead, swish with water, a diluted mouth rinse or a mixture of water and 1 tsp. baking soda to help wash the acid away.
Can bulimia ruin veneers?
Can porcelain veneers be used as treatment for bulimia and severe wear? Absolutely! The tooth destruction due to the acid from bulimia or anorexia nervosa or severe wear from any other cause should be addressed before any permanent treatment is completed.