What impact might eating problems have on your mouth?

Eating problems are common eating disorders that can range from overeating to not eating enough, from being over selective in picking-up food items to not getting the required intake of essential nutrients, and from binge-eating and purging (self-induced vomiting) to regurgitation which is the act of bringing swallowed food back into the mouth.

While the reasons for such abnormal eating behaviors are not very clear, experts believe that people who tend to be over-conscious of their body weight, shape, and appearance, or feel some sort of inferiority complex are more prone to showing these symptoms. People who were sexually abused, or those with intellectual disabilities are also more likely to develop eating disorders.

Although more common in females, especially teenagers and young adults, eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of their age and gender. We shall talk more about the impact of these eating problems in a while but first let’s understand the different types of eating disorders that occur.

Types of Eating Disorders

1. Anorexia nervosa (AN) refers to limiting the intake of essential nutrients in fear of gaining weight, or getting fat, or due to the distorted sense of their body weight and shape. People with this disorder take extreme measures through dieting, fasting, purging, and/or excessive exercising so as to control their weight and shape (even when they aren’t overweight).

As a result, they end up missing many of the nutrients required for teeth and dental health.

2. Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious eating disorder that involves binging and purging. It means eating too much at first (even to the point of vomiting), and then getting rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way either by self-induced vomiting, fasting, exercising, or by using too many laxatives/diuretics.

3. Binge-eating disorder is one of the most common types of eating disorders that there is. It involves eating too much food (even when not hungry), eating faster, and eating until you’re uncomfortably full. And then eat some more in hiding, and alone, due to the guilt, shame, or embarrassment one might feel for his bad eating habits.

4. Rumination disorder is where a person repeatedly and persistently regurgitates food after eating (just like a buffalo), and without any nausea or gagging. It may also involve re-chewing, re-swallowing, or spitting out of the food. Rumination disorder is common in infants and people with intellectual disabilities.

5. Pica is the disorder of eating non-nutritive food and non-food substances such as paper, ink, soap, hair, chalk, paint, and clay. Again, it’s something most often seen in patients with intellectual disabilities, and children.

6. Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a unique feeding or eating disorder wherein one fails to meet the desired level of daily nutrition due to the lack of interest in eating certain food items based on its color, texture, smell or taste.

Impact of eating disorders on mouth

Poor eating habits such as these can lead to serious health issues for individuals, starting with their teeth and mouth, to potentially damaging both their physical as well as mental well-being.

Here are some of its major effects on the mouth:

• Enamel erosion or loss of dental tissue can be caused by the wear and tear that occurs on tooth surfaces upon purging due to the stomach acid that comes out in the vomit. It can also lead to a faster tooth decay.
• Dry mouth or Xerostomia can be also caused by self-induced vomiting or starvation, which can lead to hypo-salivation.
• Enlarged salivary glands can be easily caused due to careless binge-eating; whereas, dysfunctional salivary glands is what happens when you don’t get the essential nutrients in your meals due to an eating disorder. Not only can it affect the production of the much-needed saliva in your mouth, but can also lead to plaque and bacteria.
• Cracked/dry lips and burning tongue is also possible due to lack of nutrients that are essential for oral health like calcium, iron, and B vitamins.
• Mouth sores is another dental effect of eating disorders which occurs due to insufficient iron, or vitamin D as it is what helps absorb the calcium intake. Deficiency in Vitamin B3 is yet another reason for canker
• Tooth decay is the secondary, but the ultimate impact of most eating disorders and bad practices such as over-brushing the teeth, frequent purging/vomiting followed by extensive rinsing and flossing, and poor overall Dry mouth or Xerostomia is also known to result in tooth decay quite often.
• Sensitive teeth (hot and cold) is another major problem caused by most eating Since eating disorders naturally deprive a person off essential nutrients, it further leads to sensitivity while eating or drinking hot, cold, or sweet things.

Conclusion

While eating disorders can certainly hamper your oral health, there are measures that you can take to minimize its effects.

Rinsing your mouth frequently with water, daily tooth brushing and flossing, and desensitizing with sugar-free and re-mineralizing agents such as fluoride can help you maintain a good oral health.

Regardless, if you’re suffering from any of these eating disorders I mentioned, then it’s smart to see a dentist asap. You might also want to enroll yourself into a dental plan for easy and 24/7 access to world class dental professionals.

For more info, kindly reach out to us, and we’d be happy to help.