How Eating Disorders May Harm a Teen's Dental Health

If you fear that your teen has an eating disorder, a variety of concerns may be running on a loop in your brain. You should know that you're not alone. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, eating disorders have risen unprecedentedly within the past two decades, and around half a million teens struggle with them now.

There is no definite conclusion on what causes an eating disorder. It's believed that a perfect storm of psychological, biological, and sociocultural factors leads to a teen developing an eating disorder. As the parent, you can help support your teen by first getting informed about the many effects of an eating disorder. Consider how eating disorders may harm a teen's dental health.

If your teen suffers with anorexia or bulimia, they are most likely not getting adequate nutrition. A nutritional deficiency can harm the teeth and gums in multiple ways. For example, a lack of vitamin C, folic acid, or riboflavin can lead to swollen gums. Not getting enough vitamin B3 can cause canker sores and stinky breath.

Nutrients necessary to optimal oral health include iron, calcium, and B vitamins. Not only does the body need calcium for healthy teeth and gums, but it also needs vitamin D so that the body can absorb the calcium. If a teen doesn't get enough iron in their diet, they may find sores in their mouth. No teen wants the gum disease and dental decay that can result from poor nutrition.

Most people don't associate arthritis with young people. However, a teen with anorexia or bulimia may develop degenerative arthritis from a hormone imbalance or lack of adequate nutrition. This degenerative arthritis can impact the two temporomandibular joins that connect a person's skull to their lower jaw.

When arthritis is in the temporomandibular joint in the teen's jaw, they may experience pain, and it can be difficult to chew. That can further complicate issues with eating. The pain may make it difficult for a teen to even open and close their mouth. It may also cause recurring headaches.

When a bulimic frequently vomits, they consistently force stomach acids over their teeth. These stomach acids can erode the enamel on a teen's teeth, and the teeth then may become discolored. They can even become brittle and weak. A teen may then suffer from extreme tooth sensitivity without that protective enamel on their teeth, and they may lose many teeth.

Once tooth enamel is gone, you can't get it back. The good news is that a teen can do a lot to protect the enamel on their teeth before it's too late. Obviously, they must seek help from an eating disorder specialist to stop the self-harming vomiting.

While a teenager gets treatment for the eating disorder, help them be proactive about caring for their dental health. During treatment, encourage your teen to brush their teeth at least twice daily. They should also floss or use an interdental cleaning device once every day. Teens should ask their dentist to recommend a mouthwash that will optimally meet their needs.

Be sure a teen who has not fully recovered from bulimia isn't brushing right after throwing up. If someone throws up, the American Dental Association cautions that it's better to rinse the mouth out with baking soda to neutralize the stomach acid that comes up in the mouth when vomiting. However, an effective treatment plan for bulimia should help the teen stop throwing up.

Finally, eating disorders have an impact on a teen's health in many ways beyond their oral health. Get immediately medical help for your teen if they struggle with bulimia, anorexia, and binge eating. Also, take your teen for regular dental check-ups and discuss any concerns with them. Contact Rabel Family Dental General Dentistry for an appointment today.