While the realization of eating disorders has grown, they are still an unrelenting health alarm for teenagers, young adults, and adults who are not exempted. There are several health concerns derived from a chronic eating disorder, and this makes your teeth suffer just like the rest of your body.
Bulimia and anorexia nervosa both influence your oral health. During treatment and recovery from an eating disorder, you will have to consult with your dentist about how you can get back your smile, considering that your teeth can be severely affected by this condition.
Short- and Long-Term Effects
Bulimia causes the most damage to the oral cavity because the main distinction of bulimia is eating hefty amounts of high-calorie foods and then removal of those foods by vomiting behavior affects the teeth by:
- Softening and erosion of the enamel continuous exposure to stomach acids from vomiting can rapidly erode the enamel.
- Irritating gum tissues Your gums may bleed and begin to recede exposing the root that cannot be well protected by the enamel, mouth sores will also develop on the palate, cheeks, and under the tongue.
- Staining, teeth discoloration is a common problem for bulimic patients due to exposure to stomach acids.
- Weakening the teeth, your teeth become fragile even biting in a cookie can break you or crack your teeth.
Anorexia also affects your tooth health but in a different way. When you avoid food, you become deficient in the vitamins and minerals your body needs. One of the important nutrients is calcium which s stored in the teeth and bones, calcium intake from food makes the bones and teeth stronger, however with minimal or no calcium intake at all bones and teeth become very weak, your jaw bone losses the ability to hold your teeth in place eventually resulting to teeth loss.
How can you protect your teeth?
Eating disorders will put your teeth at greater risk. Dentists can frequently identify complications caused by eating disorders, your dentist may recommend a rehabilitation treatment to stop your eating disorder to avoid further teeth damage.
Recovery takes a long time, you can protect your teeth by:
- Rinsing your mouth with water helps to dilute the acidic environment of your mouth.
- Avoiding brushing right after throwing up, some people use brushing to cover up that they have thrown up. This can further damage the tooth enamel because it becomes soft after exposure to stomach acids.
- Treatments and supplements may be prescribed for you, your dentist may recommend mouth wash with fluoride to help strengthen your teeth.
- For anorexic patients, you should start taking calcium supplements. Anorexic patients need help when food and vitamins are reintroduced. A dietician can help you with a balanced calcium diet.
- Wearing mouth guards for both conditions is essential, this will help protect the teeth from wear
Repair
After recovery from an eating disorder, a smile repair may be considered, since your teeth cannot be the same as before, but this does not mean you have to live with broken down, stained, and weak teeth. There are several treatments that your dentist can do for you to restore your beautiful smile, and if again you do not want to go out in the open just yet, you can visit us at DentistConsultationHub.com, we can give you the treatments you need at the comfort of your home. We can regain your healthy smile even after a bout with eating disorders.
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