Eating disorders negatively affect oral health

While the connection between oral health and systemic health has been well-established, what most people don't know is that dentists often are in a position to detect systemic conditions. According to an article published in the October 2010 issue of AGD Impact, the monthly newsmagazine of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), dentists may be the first health care providers to notice evidence of an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and pica.

That's because the first signs of an eating disorder can manifest in the mouth. Sensitivity, tooth erosion, dry mouth, a high number of cavities, and enlarged salivary glands that cause swollen cheeks are signs that a patient may be suffering from an eating disorder.

"The repeated, self-induced vomiting that occurs with many of these patients introduces corrosive stomach acid into the mouth that eats away at the enamel on teeth," says AGD spokesperson Claire Campbell, DMD, FAGD. "And brushing your teeth immediately after purging may amplify the damage, because you are actually brushing acid onto more tooth surfaces, increasing the erosive action."

Another tip-off of an eating disorder is an abundance of cavities over a short period of time. "Patients who binge on high-caloric, high-carbohydrate foods and then purge those foods run the greatest risk of decay," says Dr. Campbell. "The sugars in those foods cause increased acidity in the mouth, while the purging bathes the teeth in even more acid, an incredibly destructive double whammy."

In extreme cases of eating disorders, the nerve of the tooth can be exposed, causing infection, discoloration, and even the death of the tooth. On rare occasions, tooth loss can occur. When the effects of an eating disorder are extreme, patients may require significant restorative care such as crowns or veneers.

More than 90 percent of people who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25. Studies report that 5 to 10 percent of anorexics die within 10 years of developing the disease and another 18 to 20 percent die within 20 years. Only 30 to 40 percent will make a full recovery.

Certain populations whose careers are defined by image and weight—including athletes, models, and actors/actresses—are at an increased risk for developing an eating disorder.

"It is important, though, that health care providers remember that all ages and socioeconomic groups can be at risk for eating disorders," says Dr. Campbell.

Eating disorders can wreak havoc on other parts of the body as well, including the heart. For example, the behaviors of patients with anorexia can cause a slower heart rate and lower blood pressure, which increase the risk of heart failure.

Dentists who notice signs of an eating disorder are advised to approach the patient in a professional manner, voicing their concerns. Additionally, the patient's primary physician may inform the dentist about the patient's condition, enabling the dentist to work with the patient to treat the oral consequences of an eating disorder as a component of the patient's recovery process. Ideally, health care professionals work as a team to assist their mutual patients with treatment decisions.

Patients who suffer from an eating disorder are encouraged to speak openly with their dentist regarding their condition. Although dentists cannot treat the psychological issues of patients with eating disorders, they can help those patients to locate resources for treating the condition.