Dentists can be the ‘first line of defense’ Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can have irreversible negative effects on an individual’s body and especially on his or her teeth, gums, or mouth. In fact, the initial indicators of an eating disorder are often evident in the mouth.
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.
Can dentists tell if someone has bulimia?
Excessive tooth erosion is one way your dentist could tell if a patient may be bulimic. Frequent vomiting can lead to sensitive teeth, dry mouth and red, cracked lips. All signs that your dentist is trained to recognize as side effects of bulimia.
What is commonly seen on the teeth of a bulimic patient?
Yellow, brittle teeth Your teeth may be weaker and more brittle than usual. They can chip easily and may look ragged at the bottom. Sometimes they’ll turn a yellowish color or take on a glassy appearance. Bulimia can also change the shape and length of your teeth.
How long does it take for bulimia to cause damage to teeth?
Tooth erosion may become apparent after only six months of self-induced vomiting. Over time as the enamel is eroded by repeated exposure to gastric acid, teeth may lose their shine, break, turn yellow, wear down, chip, and look ragged. Damaged teeth can further exacerbate any concerns about one’s appearance.
Which eating disorder is a dentist most likely to diagnose?
According to the Institute of Dental Research, 28% of bulimia cases are first diagnosed during a dental exam.
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.
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.
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.
How do you protect your teeth when you throw up?
- Rinse with water after vomiting. Water is a great way to help remove dangerous acids from the teeth and can diminish the chance of decay.
- Wait to brush. Brushing immediately after vomiting can actually lead to more damage.
- Apply toothpaste.
- Rinse with mouthwash.
How long should you wait after throwing up to brush your teeth?
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.
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.
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.
Can bulimia cause TMJ?
Another result of long-term bulimia is bite-change. It can become so extreme that the patient’s jaw joints are gradually misaligned, causing severe TMJ-related facial pain (which may domino and lead to headaches, neck and shoulder pain as well).
What happens to your mouth bulimia?
The dental changes seen in many people with bulimia are often recognizable. Frequent vomiting may cause your salivary glands to swell and the tissues of your mouth and tongue to become dry, red and sore. People with bulimia may have chronic sore throat and small hemorrhages under the skin of the palate.
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.
What is the most insignificant characteristic of a person with bulimia?
What is the most insignificant characteristic of a person with bulimia? The person is close to her ideal body weight. Bulimia nervosa is more prevalent than anorexia nervosa in both women and men. What is not a risk of being underweight?
Does purging get rid of any calories?
Purging isn’t effective at getting rid of calories, which is why most people suffering with bulimia end up gaining weight over time. Vomiting immediately after eating won’t eliminate more than 50% of the calories consumed— usually much less.
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.
How do I stop being bulimic without gaining weight?
- Decide not to restrict food or calories.
- Practice mindfulness.
- Develop a plan for when urges to binge or purge hit.
- Agree to delay binge eating or purging.
- Write a letter to yourself.
- Make a list of positive affirmations.
- Identify the thoughts that typically precipitate a binge or purge.
How does bulimia affect the 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.
Which intervention has been found to be most effective reducing the initial symptoms of bulimia?
Treatment outcomes CBT is the single most well-studied and effective treatment for bulimia nervosa. Some studies have reported that the combination of antidepressant therapy and CBT results in the highest remission rates.
Which of the following is a common treatment for bulimia?
Antidepressants may help reduce the symptoms of bulimia when used along with psychotherapy. The only antidepressant specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat bulimia is fluoxetine (Prozac), a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which may help even if you’re not depressed.
What helps bulimia sore throat?
Home remedies for a sore throat include warm soothing liquids and throat lozenges. OTC remedies for a sore throat include OTC pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Antibiotics may be necessary for some cases of sore throat.
What are 3 warning signs of bulimia?
- Episodes of binge eating.
- Self-induced vomiting.
- Smelling like vomit.
- Misuse of laxatives and diuretics.
- Complaining about body image.
- Expressing guilt or shame about eating.
- Depression.
- Irritability.