Recently, we discussed the health effects of the dangerous eating disorder, Bulimia Nervosa. The binge-and-purge cycles of bulimia not only negatively affect health, but cause severe damage to the mouth and irreversible damage to the teeth.
The dental and oral health problems caused by bulimia are vast. According to Colgate’s Oral and Dental Health Resource Center, frequent vomiting can cause the following problems:
- Swollen salivary glands
- Swollen mouth tissue
- Dry, sore, red tongue
- Chronic sore throat
- Small hemorrhages under the skin of the palate
- Tooth enamel erosion (beginning behind the upper front teeth, later effecting all teeth)
- Enhanced risk of tooth decay
- Changes in bite and how teeth come together
- Reduction of tooth size
- Tooth loss
- Increased risk of periodontal disease
I want to share photos of real patients with you because the catastrophic effects of the acid regurgitation during the purging coupled with the carbohydrate and sugar exposure during the binging are hard to imagine. It is said that the tooth structure can be weakened in as little as six months of purging; these photos represent closer to a decade of acid exposure.
Thanks to advances in dentistry, we can help repair the damage caused by this disease, and, with the advanced cosmetic procedures offered at Dental Health & Wellness Boston, we can restore a beautiful smile. We offer a full array of services tailored specifically for patients suffering the effects of bulimia, and work with you to prevent further damage and restore your teeth’s structure and beauty. We recommend several products and regimens available at our office to repair dental damage and keep teeth healthy going forward. Utilizing several techniques such as crowns, implants, composite bonding, dental recontouring and more we can bring back the smile you were born with.
At Dental Health & Wellness Boston, we understand that bulimia is difficult to overcome and recovery takes time. My office provides a confidential, judgment-free zone and privacy is of the utmost importance. I want to help you understand the effects binging and purging has on your dental health and work with your medical and psychiatric specialists to help you overcome this disease and get you on the road to optimal health and wellness. As a member of MEDA (Multiservice Eating Disorders Association) and NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association), Dental Health and Wellness Boston is connected with professionals who have years of expertise with eating disorders. A healthy new smile represents a healthy new start to life!
