Millions of people globally struggle with significant eating disorders. For physical well-being or to maintain a low weight, patients with these diseases might feel pressured to limit their food consumption or participate in excessive exercise. Bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating disorders are just a few of the primary physical consequences of eating too little or working too much, which can also have a negative impact on oral health.
Regular dental check-ups are crucial for maintaining good oral health. Dentists in Breckenridge provide comprehensive exams to assess the health of your teeth, gums, and overall oral cavity. For more information, contact relaxation dental specialties Breckenridge.
How does an eating disorder affect our dental health?
People with anorexia are obsessed with eating and food labels and might also develop a fear of gaining weight. To reduce weight, they would force themselves to vomit, starve, or use laxatives or enemas. Some anorexics experience severe anxiety regarding their weight. People who struggle with anorexia usually have an obsession with their weight and food, which may cause dental issues as a result of their restricted diet.
Bulimia nervosa patients frequently experience oral health problems. Your mouth and stomach are empty while you are in a binge eating cycle, causing your salivary flow to decrease.
The mouth and teeth can sustain serious harm as a result of eating disorders. The more damage is done, the longer the condition stays untreated.
Oral health problems can result from harmful procedures and nutritional deficiencies, such as these:
- Gum bleeding: Inadequate nutrition could make it simpler for the gums and other soft tissues in your mouth to bleed.
- Swollen salivary glands: The salivary glands may swell as an outcome of a binge-purge cycle.
- Chronic dry mouth: The body can suffer from recurrent dry mouth, dehydration, and reduced saliva production as a result of nutritional deficiencies, bingeing, and purging.
- Tooth decay and gum disease: Since calcium and vitamin D are necessary for maintaining oral health, a lack of these minerals can boost the risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay. Another way to make tooth decay worse is to brush your teeth a lot after purging.
- Foul breath: Regular vomiting and vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiencies can both result in overtime foul breath.
Oral and dental symptoms of eating disorders
Dental professionals and dentists are usually the first to identify symptoms of eating disorders associated with oral health issues. Typical oral and dental issues associated with eating disorders include:
- Burning tongue.
- Dental erosion.
- Cracked and dry lips.
- Gingival bleeding.
During a regular dental checkup, the dental professionals will examine your mouth in extreme detail. This may involve investigating injuries within the mouth, which can result from pushing oneself to vomit by putting objects in the mouth.
