Oral
Clues to Eating Disorders
Of the more than 10 million
Americans currently affected by serious eating disorders, most are teenagers
and young adult women. In addition to having a negative effect on self-image,
relationships with family and friends, and performance in school or at work,
eating disorders also affect a person’s oral health. In fact, oral clues—among
them, thinner teeth, enlarged salivary glands and soft tissue ulcerations—are
signs familiar to a dental professional of an eating problem such as bulimia or
anorexia.
The nutritional deficiencies that
accompany eating disorders can raise certain red flags. Two, for instance, are
chronically irritated and sore corners of the mouth (angular cheilitis) and a
swollen, painful tongue (glossitis).
Anorexia, bulimia and compulsive
overeating are among the most serious eating disorders. A person with anorexia
sees himself or herself as fat no matter how thin the body in the mirror
appears. In bulimia, the patient fears becoming overweight, yet eats large
amounts of food and gets rid of it immediately by vomiting or using laxatives.
Compulsive overeaters “binge” on food but don’t necessarily “purge” the way
bulimics do.
If you suspect your child has an
eating disorder, do not ignore it. Engage in nonjudgmental discussions with
your child about the behavior. Consult his or her pediatrician and, most
likely, a mental health specialist.
While you seek help for the problem,
we can suggest strategies to help prevent oral health complications. One of the
most important is also counterintuitive. Although someone who has just vomited
may want to brush his or her teeth immediately, the acid on the teeth makes
them vulnerable to enamel loss. A rinse of either plain water or a solution of
water and baking soda will help neutralize the harmful effects of stomach acids
on the teeth. Brushing can come an hour later and should be done with a
fluoride toothpaste. In fact, additional fluoride treatments, at home or in our
office, may be recommended to help preserve tooth enamel.
Malnutrition from anorexia will
often leave salivary glands swollen and less productive, leading to a tendency
toward dry mouth, which in turn hastens tooth decay. In addition to fastidious
dental hygiene, chewing sugarless gum with xylitol can help maintain oral
moistness and preserve mouth health.
If you think your child might have
an eating disorder, we can discuss the matter with you in more detail and refer
you to other helpful community resources.
Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared today!
