Oral Health And Dental Care When You're Bulimic
If you suffer from bulimia, you may not be aware of the damage frequent vomiting can do to your teeth and gums. Each time you vomit, your teeth and gums are exposed to stomach acid, which is highly corrosive. Some people suffering from bulimia avoid visiting the dentist for check-ups, as they don't want their dentist to know about their eating disorder. However, dentists are used to seeing patients with all sorts of medical conditions, including eating disorders, and are there to help you have the best oral health possible without passing judgement.
How Bulimia Impacts Oral Health
When you are bulimic, your tooth enamel can be damaged by acid erosion, and this can lead to your teeth becoming discoloured and sensitive to hot and cold foods. As enamel erodes, bacteria can infect the tooth pulp and decay can become a problem. Some people with bulimia also experience dehydration. This can lead to you having a dry mouth, and less saliva increases the acidity of your mouth. Bacteria thrive in acidic environments, so frequently having a dry mouth and a lot of oral bacteria can leave you susceptible to developing plaque and gum disease. Additionally, frequent vomiting can cause the soft tissues of your mouth to become irritated, which can make eating uncomfortable and cause small lesions in your cheeks, tongue and gums that can allow a bacterial infection to develop.
How Your Dentist Can Help
Your dentist can work with you to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible and minimise the impact of frequent vomiting. They can provide advice on managing your oral hygiene, such as discussing the best time to brush your teeth to reduce the risk of exposing your teeth to greater concentrations of acid. Your dentist can also recommend products to use as part of your oral hygiene routine. The aim of adding new products is to add some protection against corrosive stomach acid and high levels of bacteria. For example, they may recommend a fluoride gel to deter plaque from forming along your gum line. Your dentist can also carry out restorative treatment if your teeth are already damaged. For example, fillings can be carried out on decayed teeth, crowns can be used to repair cracks on molars and veneers can be used to cover enamel erosion and protect damaged teeth from bacteria.
If you have bulimia, don't resign yourself to a future of poor oral health. Your dentist is there to help keep your teeth and gums in good condition, regardless of what else is going on with your health. So, if you're overdue for a check-up, don't put it off any longer.
Talk to a dentist to learn more.