Eating Disorders and Oral Health

Greetings from Dr. Pasch, Dr. Yam, Dr. Shirzadnia and Dr. Song!

You have heard it many times: the mouth is the window into the health of the body, right? Well, since our various cultures and lifestyles present to us the opportunity to gather around the table at every celebration and enjoy food in quantities much greater than the absolute needed for normal existing, and therefore we systematically consume larger amounts of food than needed, some people develop eating disorders.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association approximately  ten million Americans suffer from some type of an eating disorder.  Most frequently it is associated with either starvation ( in the cases of Anorexia- when one believes that they are "fat" when in reality they are not fat at all, ) or overeating and excessive vomiting to compensate the bulge eating, very often controlled by mood swings( in the cases of Bulimia- one would eat uncontrollably to satisfy the urge to eat, then feel guilty and vomit after a meal).

Eating disorders are frequently seen with teenagers and young adults, and more common among females.  The effect that they have on  the oral cavity, tissues and dentition is tremendous. The reason for it is the repetitive destructive and eroding effect of  stomach acids on tooth structures and the tissues in the mouth. With time, teeth become discolored, brittle, decay develops, and the tissues in the mouth become inflamed and bleed easily.  Eating hot or cold food or drink may become uncomfortable.

In many cases, the patient would feel ashamed discussing this issue and therefore fail to obtain professional help in a timely manner. However, it is extremely important to discuss with your healthcare provider the presence of such a problem if it exists. After all , even if you do not want to admit, a professional will be able to conclude the presence of such problem  by the obvious damage of the eating disorder.

If you suspect that a loved one is challenged by an eating disorder, don't be afraid to take the first step and initiate a friendly conversation to help them open up and acknowledge the fact that they need help if they want to overcome this problem. A timely intervention is important also because the damages caused may be irreversible, depending on the severity of the case and the length of time during which the problem was occurring.

If you have any questions  regarding this matter please feel free to contact us via email at  appts@newyorkdenturedental.com or  call us at 212-689-0024. We are here to help!



Herald Square Dental
& The Denture Center

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References: http://www.mouthhealthy.org