Oral symptoms related to bulimia nervosa that have been described in case reports, descriptive studies, and case-control studies include enamel erosion, dental caries, dental pain, orthodontic abnormalities, xerostomia, reduced saliva secretion, parotid enlargement and dysphagia, among others.
What do teeth look like after bulimia?
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.
How can dentist tell if you are bulimic?
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 does bulimia do to your gums?
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.
What are 3 complications of bulimia?
Possible complications include: Negative self-esteem and problems with relationships and social functioning. Dehydration, which can lead to major medical problems, such as kidney failure. Heart problems, such as an irregular heartbeat or heart failure. Severe tooth decay and gum disease.
Which is a dental complication associated with purging?
Tooth decay Decay of teeth and enamel is most frequently seen due to increased levels of stomach acid in the mouth from purging behaviors.
Can you reverse tooth damage from 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.
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.
What does bulimia do to your face?
“Chipmunk Cheeks”: A Common Sign of Bulimia One of the telltale signs of bulimia is the appearance of swollen cheeks – colloquially known as “chipmunk cheeks” – on the sides of the face. Caused by the enlargement of the parotid glands (one of the salivary glands), the medical term for this phenomenon is sialadenosis.
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.
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.
Can acid reflux damage your gums?
Acid reflux can also have a harmful effect on the health of your gums. Exposure to stomach acids can raise the risk of developing gum disease, or periodontal disease. The disease attacks your gum tissue, causing your gums to recede and increasing your risk of losing teeth.
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 might long term vomiting alter the oral cavity?
Frequent vomiting can have a negative effect on your oral health. Issues include dryness, sores, redness of the mouth and tongue, chronic sore throats, and erosion of the enamel that protects your teeth. Erosion increases the risk of decay, causing more cavities and sensitivity of the teeth.
What damage can bulimia cause?
Bulimia can eventually lead to physical problems associated with not getting the right nutrients, vomiting a lot, or overusing laxatives. Possible complications include: feeling tired and weak. dental problems – stomach acid from persistent vomiting can damage tooth enamel.
Can an endoscopy detect bulimia?
Upper endoscopy may be indicated for those patients with bulimia who have purged excessively for years and for any bulimic patients with clear new symptoms of dysphagia.
What is considered severe bulimia?
Symptoms of Severe Bulimia Nervosa (BN) Severe bulimia nervosa (BN) is defined as 8–13 binge/purge episodes per week), and extreme bulimia nervosa involves 14 or more binge/purge episodes per week. Unhealthy preoccupation with weight loss, body weight and shape; significant body image distortions.
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?
Which medical complications are associated with the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa can lead to a variety of general medical complications, including metabolic alkalosis, dehydration, constipation, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Why does bulimia cause acidosis?
Patients who purge by vomiting may present with metabolic alkalosis (elevated serum bicarbonate levels) due to volume contraction. However, patients who primarily abuse laxatives may present with metabolic acidosis (decreased serum bicarbonate levels) due to loss of alkaline fluid from the bowel.
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.
How do you neutralize acid 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.
Does vomiting mess up your teeth?
Over time, frequent vomiting can cause more severe erosion that actually changes the way your upper and lower teeth come together, and you could even end up losing some teeth. If you’re vomiting a lot, or frequently, make sure you see a doctor.
What are two long term effects of bulimia?
Long term effects of bulimia include: Sever dehydration. Tooth decay & cavities. Irregular periods.
Can bulimia damage the vagus nerve?
The vagus nerve gets damaged if you have diabetes and your blood sugar or blood glucose levels stay high over a long period of time. Other causes of gastroparesis include: Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia.