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Eating Disorders and Dental Health
By Houston Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Craig Mabrito
Dental health can be severely affected during the course of an eating disorder due to the acid associated with frequent vomiting and nutritional deficiencies. The stomach acids from purging are absorbed into the teeth and slowly begin to eat away at the enamel. This can cause loss of tooth structure, infections, and broken and worn eroded teeth. Studies have shown that up to 89% of bulimic patients show signs of tooth erosion. With the help of Dr. Mabrito, these dental ramifications caused by serious eating disorder conditions can be improved with restorative dental techniques. See Full Mouth Reconstruction
Eating disorders are prevalent in today’s society for both men and women. At least 5 – 10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men in the U.S. are struggling with an eating disorder which is often caused by emotional issues and the inability to control, cope or avoid events in their life.
After witnessing case after case of dental problems due to eating disorders, Dr. Mabrito organized a group of healthcare professionals in October 2001 to take eating disorders “out of the closet” in Houston and the Gulf Coast region.
To further address this issue, Dr. Mabrito co-founded and served as president of The Eating Disorder Association of Houston (EDAH), a non-profit organization. The goal of the organization is to promote the awareness and prevention of eating disorders and to facilitate opportunities for treatment.
Dental Symptoms of Eating Disorders
Dentists are often the first to recognize a patient has an eating disorder due to several classic symptoms and signs including:
- Loss of tissue and erosive lesions on the surface of teeth from the effects of acid, which can show up as early as 6 months after the problem starts
- Teeth color, shape, and length changing as well as becoming brittle, translucent and weak
- Increased sensitivity to temperature
- Enlargement of the salivary glands, dry mouth, and reddened, dry, cracked lips
- Tooth decay which can actually be aggravated by extensive tooth brushing or rinsing following vomiting
- Unprovoked, spontaneous pain within a particular tooth
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If you are experiencing any of these eating disorder symptoms,
call Dr. Mabrito’s office at 713.528.0567
to schedule a comprehensive dental evaluation.
Effects of Bulimia on Dental Hygiene
View real life examples of how an eating disorder affects the teeth and gums
Patient 1
Before
- Edges of the teeth have become translucent from the stomach acid which
has destroyed the inner portion of the teeth leaving a thin wall of enamel - Teeth are subject to breakage and are very sensitive to hot and cold
- Decay has developed between teeth due to binge eating and poor oral hygiene
After
Patient 2
- Extensive teeth erosion where pulp or nerve of tooth is showing
- Darkened tooth has abscessed from the resulting bacterial contamination
- Teeth are extremely short due to acid exposure from purging (vomiting) after eating
Patient 3
- Patient has several red dots on the roof of her mouth where blood vessels have broken from vomiting force
- Enamel has been reduced to a thin layer that only remains around the outer surface of the teeth
- Teeth are very fragile and will break or chip even under normal chewing pressure
- Creases have developed around patient’s mouth and lips from extreme tooth wear
- Downward fold causes saliva to seep out resulting in chapping and irritation and causes 30 year
old patient to appear much older
Call 713.528.0567 or fill out our contact form, and take the first step to restoring your smile from the effects of an eating disorder by scheduling a comprehensive dental evaluation with Dr. Mabrito.
