Eating Disorders and Your Dental Health

According to recent estimates, about ten percent of Americans suffer from serious eating disorders—disorders that take a heavy toll on oral health.

Nutrients needed

Just like other parts of the body, your mouth needs vitamins, minerals and protein. But eating disorders do away with those nutrients, and the resulting damage can be catastrophic. The frequent binge/purge cycles associated with eating disorders causes chronic oral problems. Gum recession and tooth decay and loss are common outcomes.

Attack on the jaw

Bulimia or anorexia are thought to lead to degenerative arthritis in the Temporomandibular joint—the “hinge” that links your lower jaw with the rest of your mouth. Besides pain, TMJ issues cause chronic headaches and difficulty chewing or moving the jaw.

Talk to us

If you have an eating disorder, your mouth is one of the first places that symptoms show up—and any dentist will see the damage. We can recognize those symptoms and recommend treatment for the oral health problems they cause.