The dental challenges of eating disorders

With The Costs of Eating Disorders – Social, Health and Economic Impacts report estimating that more than 725,000 people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder, there is a very good chance that more than a few of your patients may need help in this area. The eating disorder that tends to have the greatest effect on oral health is bulimia nervosa, which involves the sufferer caught in a cycle of eating large quantities of food and then vomiting (known as purging), in order to prevent weight gain. This can result in severe damage to the teeth in the form of erosion, so it is certainly something that we, as dental care profesisonals, should be keeping an eye out for. Indeed, the extended periods of intentional vomiting suffered by bulimics can have considerable impact on the dentition and result in substantial oral health complications, including: