If you have a loved one battling bulimia, you'll no doubt want to help them with their treatment plan. Bulimia is an intensive experience for the body, and your loved one's oral health may have declined significantly. A dentist can help restore their teeth by offsetting the damage caused by frequent bulimic purging.
Acid
Stomach acid is, by necessity, highly corrosive. Also known as gastric juice, it contains a significant amount of hydrochloric acid. This acidity is necessary to break down swallowed food so nutrients can be extracted. Gastric juice is usually contained within the stomach, except on occasions when some is expelled during emesis (which is the medical term for the act of vomiting).
Emesis
Emesis is infrequent for most people, and it is so infrequent that the acidic components introduced to their mouth don't have the opportunity to cause any harm. Yet when someone manually induces emesis (by purging), the level of corrosive elements in their mouth can escalate significantly. This is destructive to dental enamel.
Enamel
Gastric juices can corrode dental enamel, which is the strong outer coating present in each tooth. The erosion of dental enamel is how tooth decay starts. Repeated exposure to gastric juices can weaken (and even strip away) dental enamel, making teeth fat more susceptible to decay. Untreated decay can lead to an infection of the tooth's nerve, necessitating root canal treatment. Tooth loss also becomes possible.
Corrosion
This corrosion is usually most prominent on the lingual surfaces of teeth, which are the sides of the teeth that touch the tongue. This is because the outward expulsion of gastric juices during emesis first (and most prominently) makes contact with these lingual surfaces. As such, they're often the first to succumb to damage. This damage can be reversed by a dentist.
Treatment
The best treatment plan depends on the amount of enamel corrosion. A dentist may be able to replace damaged enamel via dental bonding. This adds a layer of tooth-coloured resin to the surface in question. It's the same material used for fillings and can be applied and dried more or less instantly, creating a new protective layer for the tooth that blends into the rest of the tooth's structure. In more extreme cases, a porcelain dental crown fitted over the whole tooth could be required. Different teeth may need different treatment methods.
As part of your loved one's recovery from bulimia, it's important to remember that their illness may have taken a toll on their teeth, and treatment from a dentist is an essential part of their recovery. Reach out to a dentist near you to learn more.
Share21 June 2023
As a mother, I've seen my kids' faces light up after they've lost a tooth – oh, the excitement they feel about getting their grown up teeth! However, I've also seen my kids become extremely scared and anxious after having an adult tooth knocked out. If you're a mom or a dad with a busy kid, chances are you might see a tooth knocked out in a skateboarding accident or a sport pile-up. This blog is dedicated to those moments when you could lose your wits, and it's here to ensure you don't. I am collecting and curating the best information about kids and dental emergencies here so that you will have it when you need it. Best of luck with your kids' smiles!
