Bulimia has a dramatic affect on your body, and especially your teeth. When you purge, stomach acid is forced out of the body with food. When this acid comes in contact with your teeth, it wears at your tooth enamel and causes dental erosion. This damage will not be apparent immediately, but will appear within two or three years. Bulimia affects the teeth in a number of ways, and can cause severe permanent damage.
Bulimia and Teeth: What Happens?
As the loss of enamel increases, the dentin underneath becomes exposed, and then the tooth's nerve. This all becomes decayed, and your teeth will be very sensitive. The most common places in the mouth for damage are the top and bottom of back teeth and the inside surfaces of the front teeth. Since the tongue covers the lower teeth, there is usually not as much damage there from bulimia.
Dentists are often first to notice bulimia's effects on the teeth, and will usually try and refer the patient to eating disorder treatment. There may be other signs besides tooth erosion that the dentist will notice: gum inflammation, dry mouth, cavities and parotid gland swelling.
Bulimia and Your Teeth: Treating the Damage
To treat the damage caused by bulimia, the dentist may cover the tooth surfaces with resin-based composite to help protect them, or may crown damaged teeth. If the damage is too severe, the teeth will have to be replaced with dentures. Many dentists will not do this until the patient is in an eating disorder recovery program, as ongoing purging will erode the teeth further, requiring more repairs later.
If you do purge, remember not to brush right afterwards. Because bulimia affects your teeth drastically, this can cause more damage. Avoid acidic foods like citrus fruits and coffee to prevent erosion, and rinse with fluoride once per day.
Visit our General Dentistry video section for more information, or talk to your dentist about how bulimia affects the teeth.
Find healthy eating tips in our nutrition video section.