Eating disorders can have a profound effect on your mouth. More than just physical, eating disorders are also mental illnesses. They involve repeated thoughts about food and weight, often to the point of obsession. This can lead to restrictive diets that affect all areas of life-even sleep patterns and moods. And these behaviors can cause teeth problems like cavities or gum disease since it is difficult for people with bulimia or anorexia nervosa to brush their teeth regularly enough. Untreated dental conditions could lead to tooth loss in some cases!
What is an eating disorder?
Eating disorders are a set of conditions characterized by an unhealthy relationship with food. This includes an obsession with dieting, eating certain foods or food groups, or even avoiding food altogether.
An early sign of an eating disorder is frequent comments about weight and food made by a person who otherwise appears to be healthy, especially if this behavior is accompanied by malnutrition.
Cavities are one of the most common dental problems. They are caused by repeated exposure to foods containing carbohydrates, especially sugary or starchy foods like candy, cookies, soda, and cake. Many people with eating disorders have high incidences of cavities because they avoid these kinds of food, but not the bacteria that cause cavities. This leaves teeth vulnerable to decay.
How can it affect your mouth?
People with eating disorders may go long periods of time without brushing and flossing their teeth, causing plaque to build up. It also may cause tooth loss due to malnutrition. Some people with eating disorders chew ice to create a sense of fullness. This practice, termed “ice chewing” or “pica”, can wear down the teeth’ enamel and lead to tooth loss.
People with anorexia nervosa have a very low body weight, which can lead to poor health. They tend to have dry skin and brittle hair, loss of muscle mass, lack of menstruation for women, irregular heartbeats, constipation, and bloating. They also may have yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, brittle nails, and fine hair on the face.
A dentist may be able to detect an eating disorder by looking at a person’s oral health, such as tooth decay or plaque buildup. Poor dental hygiene could also indicate that someone has an eating disorder.
Signs and symptoms of an eating disorder
A dentist or dental hygienist may notice changes in the mouth such as tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, gum recession around the base of the molars, receding gums, broken teeth, increased plaque buildup along the gum line, and loose or separating fillings. However, not every patient with an eating disorder is going to have these symptoms.
Eating disorders are very difficult to understand because there is no specific criterion that signals when a person has an eating disorder. The spectrum of illness ranges from undereating to extreme dieting to bulimia nervosa, which involves periods of overeating followed by purging, and anorexia nervosa, which is marked by restricting food intake.
According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders about 30 million people are struggling with eating disorders in the United States. That accounts for about 10 million men and 20 million women.
The importance of oral health in relation to the body’s overall health.
When a person has an eating disorder it is important to not only look at the physical effects but also the way it affects a person psychologically. Dental health is one of those elements, and it may be a sign that something bigger is going on. People with eating disorders are more likely to avoid dental appointments, which means they are less likely to receive the care they need.
People who have an eating disorder have a higher incidence of tooth loss, cavities, gum problems, and dry mouth than those without an eating disorder. This is because they avoid sugary foods as well as acidic food and drinks that may cause erosion to their teeth.
Eating disorders affect each person differently concerning how they will affect their teeth. Some people may only experience tooth decay and others may lose a large number of teeth. It is important to understand that in most cases, it’s not necessarily what people are eating but rather the psychological effects that come with an eating disorder that causes these changes in dental health.
Ways to get help for a person with an eating disorder
Although the signs of an eating disorder are often physical, it is important to remember that most people struggle with an eating disorder for psychological reasons. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses and require professional help and support from family and friends in order to get better. A person should never attempt to go through this process alone. There are several treatment options available for eating disorders.
The most important thing is for a person to get help and support, especially if they are having difficulty getting through their normal life routine due to an eating disorder. A person can tell if they have an eating disorder by looking at their physical health. However, it is important that a person doesn’t just look for any symptom or sign that an eating disorder may exist but also to determine whether or not the way they are living life has changed because of their body image and what they think about food.
Tips on how to take care of your teeth when you have an eating disorder.
There are treatment options available that can help a person overcome an eating disorder. However, it is equally important that a person with an eating disorder improve their physical health in order to get better. This includes oral hygiene and making sure one’s teeth are healthy. Dentists have discussed the importance of good dental habits especially for patients with eating disorders.
– A person should brush their teeth at least twice a day and floss once a day to keep away the plaque and bacteria that cause cavities. Dentists recommend daily brushing for about two minutes each time, spending an extra minute on areas with more cavity-causing food particles.
– Dentists also note how important it is for people who have eating disorders to floss regularly. Dentists are noticing that eating disorder patients tend to have more dental problems than other people, many of whom do not go through the recommended daily flossing routine.
There are some things you can do after brushing your teeth or during lazy toothbrushing sessions where you don’t feel like spending two minutes on each tooth. Dentists recommend spending at least 30 seconds flossing, even if you are brushing your teeth while doing it. Dentists also note that this is important because flossing removes plaque and bacteria from where toothbrushes cannot reach.
CONCLUSION
Regular dentist visits can help to identify any potential problems in your mouth early on before they become a bigger issue. Dentists will be able to educate you on how to care for your teeth and gums better, which can ultimately prevent the development of dental-related problems. Our Kitchener Dental clinic specializes in providing dental x-rays, dental root canal, Repair of Broken Teeth, Fillings, Crowns & Dentures, and more to the Kitchener area. Many dental problems need to be addressed immediately to prevent the condition from worsening, which is why an emergency dental clinic can be a welcome addition to your regular dental care service. Our mission is to serve you as quickly as possible, to avoid any pain or increase in damage.
DISCLAIMER: The advice offered is intended to be informational only and generic in nature. It is in no way offering a definitive diagnosis or specific treatment recommendations for your particular situation. Any advice offered is no substitute for proper evaluation and care by a qualified dentist.