More than 10 million Americans suffer from some sort of an eating disorder.
Most notably anorexia and bulimia nervosa can cause several changes in the mouth and are often the first signs of an eating disorder. Your dentist may recommend methods and treatment to help you with the oral changes that are occurring. In most cases the treatments are only short term. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, encourage them to reach out to a trained professional for help.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, encourage them to reach out to a trained professional for help.
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where people obsess about their weight and limit their food intake, leading to a deficiency in nutrients needed to maintain a healthy mouth. Maintaining adequate Calcium, iron, and B vitamins will decrease your risk of developing complications in your mouth. Insufficient Calcium results in tooth decay and gum disease. Your body’s lack of iron leads to sores in the mouth. B3 (niacin) deficiency leads to bad breath and canker sores. Your gums become swollen, and bleed easily—a common sign of gingivitis. Anorexia often leads to dehydration which is a cause of dry mouth and swollen salivary glands.
Oral Observations
Tooth decay
Inflamed bleeding gums
Dry mouth
Canker Sores
Swelling of salivary glans
Bad Breath
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is the frequent binge eating and purging cycle, and it is especially hard on your mouth. Frequent vomiting subjects your mouth to an increased amount of acid from your stomach. This acid is highly corrosive and causes the enamel of your teeth to erode. Enamel acts as a protective coating for your teeth. The enamel loss can cause your teeth to become brittle, break, change color, and decay at a rapid rate. Your teeth may also become much more sensitive to hot, cold, and sweet. You may think that brushing directly after vomiting will prevent this from happening, however in most cases aggressive brushing will only speed up the process. The stomach acid may also cause painful erosion ulcers to form in your mouth. Regular vomiting can cause irritation, redness, cuts, scratches, and swelling to the top and back of your mouth and throat. This is usually caused by fingers or other utensils used to help initiate vomiting. This is a big red flag for a dental professional, as the soft pallet is rarely damaged in healthy individuals. Over time, this purging cycle can cause your salivary glands to become enlarged which can be extremely painful.
Oral Observations
Erosion of enamel
Tooth decay
Brittle teeth
Hot/cold/sweet sensitivity
Inflamed gums
Swollen salivary glands
Dry mouth
Redness or trauma to the top and back of the mouth
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