Oral Health Gives Clues About Eating Disorders

Your everyday eating habit and oral health are inseparably associated with each other. According to surveys, over a million people in America suffer from eating disorders either due to their lifestyle choices or some psychological issues. These disorders can give way to other life-threatening psychological or physical diseases. 
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Our mouth is one of the first places in our body that gets affected by these problems. Kids and teenagers are more vulnerable to these eating disorders. Here comes the vital role of preventive pediatric dentistry to protect your child from any such illnesses.

What Are the Common Eating Disorders?

1. Anorexia nervosa: This disorder is caused when a person excessively limits the quantity of his or her food consumption. They have a disfigured body image which accumulates an uncontrollable fear in them eventually, leading to stop eating or drinking at all.  
2. Bulimia nervosa: People with this disorder, feel an urge to binge eat and purge immediately after that. First, they eat compulsively and then try to eliminate the food out of their system by vomiting forcefully or exercising, or by taking laxatives.
3. Binge eating: This disorder involves compulsive eating in a large amount in a short span. These people do not feel the urge to purge. They go through an experience of feeling shame or guilt for eating, which leads to further binge eating.

Kids Dentistry is crucial because these disorders occur mostly among the young female population aged around 15 to 25. However, it can affect men, younger children, and older adults as well. 

What Are the Common Oral Symptoms to Identify Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia can cause problems in our mouth for various reasons. Firstly, excessive eating habits or limited food intake may lead to the deficiency of vital vitamins and other essential nutrients in our body. On the other hand, the vomiting tendency induces stomach acids into our mouth which has the potential to damage our teeth and the oral tissues. Some symptoms of the oral damages caused by eating disorders include:

• Bad breath
• Dry mouth
• Bone loss in the jaw
• Sensitive or worn teeth
• Cavities
• Inflamed salivary glands or bleeding gums

How Can Pediatric Specialists Be Helpful for Oral Disorder?

Child dental specialists play a pivotal role in kids’ preventive dentistry. Your dental specialist can suggest:

• Fluoride treatment helps in strengthening the tooth enamel.
• Xylitol is a substitute element for sugar in your toothpaste that can prevent cavities and dry mouth.
• Mouthguard, to help stop the decay from the stomach acids in case of vomiting
• Finally, they can refer you to a good psychotherapist who can help you deal with the eating disorders in the first place. 

If you are suffering from any eating disorders, and shying away to get yourself some help, then let us tell you that it is never too late in asking for preventive dentistry in Bellevue. Turn to any reputed dentist for you or your child without any hesitation as soon as possible.