Oral Health
Eating more than 35 million Americans, both women and men, eat from their oral health suffer from eating disorders. And although the long-term implications for the physical health of eating disorders include heart failure. kidney damage, osteoporosis and digestive system problems. Frequent vomiting and nutritional deficiencies associated with eating disorders can also seriously affect oral health. Changes in the mouth are often the first physical signs of an eating disorder, according to the National Association of Eating Disorders (NEDA).That is why dental offices are one of the first places where physical damage that can accompany this disorder can be detected. Common oral health problems that result from eating disorders include dental erosion, tooth sensitivity and dry mouth. and bad breath The two most common eating disorders, which affect approximately 11 million patients, are bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Both disorders are psychological in nature and are predominant in young women. revolving around body image problems that result in the patient depriving his body of essential nutrients, nutrients that are critical not only for a healthy body but also for a healthy mouth.
Bulimia is characterized by compulsive overeating ("binge eating") followed by self-induced vomiting ("purging"). while anorexia nervosa is marked by the extreme weight loss that is usually achieved through self-starvation. However, both diseases produce signs and symptoms that can be detected in the mouth during a routine oral exam, such as the dry mouth. redness of the palate and chapped lips. In addition to these signs, frequent vomiting is a common feature of both disorders. exposes teeth to gastric acids that erode tooth enamel. The hard protective cover of the tooth. According to NEDA. Studies have indicated that up to 89 per cent of patients with bulimia show signs of dental erosion due to the powerful effects of stomach acid. With prolonged exposure to these acids, teeth can change shape. colour. and the length and amalgam fillings can begin to protrude above the surface of a tooth. If left untreated, extreme cases of eating disorders can expose the innermost layer of teeth, called the pulp, resulting in an infection. discolouration and, eventually. Pulp Death If the latter occurs. The patient may need to have a root canal or remove the tooth. The oral effects of eating disorders can often be treated successfully when detected early.
Dentists can teach patients how to minimize the impact of constant purging. But if the patient has not sought medical or psychological treatment for the eating disorder, any reconstructive effort may prove ineffective because the additional acid will destroy any new restoration. Although eating disorders are potentially fatal (anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, according to NEDA). they are treatable And the moral implications, if detected early enough, can be reversed. If you believe that you or someone you know may have an eating disorder and are experiencing any of the symptoms described above. Talk to your doctor and dentist.
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