How Bulimia Nervosa Can Damage Your Child's Teeth
Posted on: 4 April 2022
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As a parent, it can be devastating when your child is diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, which is the act of binge eating, followed by induced vomiting. Although psychotherapy is the standard form of treatment for this eating disorder, other forms of medical care can be needed to offset the damage caused by the condition. If your child has been diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, their teeth can be at an increased risk of corrosion. As such, a visit to the dentist can be an essential component of managing the effects of bulimia nervosa.
Acid Erosion
While it's still a form of corrosion, acid erosion of teeth differs from the standard plaque-induced erosion of dental enamel, which is bacterial in nature. Acid erosion is quite literally acidic, containing a high concentration of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid), which is regurgitated into the mouth during the purge (induced vomiting) phase of bulimia. This stomach acid is what can cause extensive (and ultimately irreversible) erosion of your child's dental enamel.
Distal Surfaces
This erosion is concentrated on the distal (rear) surfaces of the teeth, as this is the part of the tooth's structure that is most exposed to the corrosive effects of stomach acid. The mesial (outward-facing) surfaces of the tooth may still appear to be perfectly healthy, but without treatment, the overall tooth will deteriorate. Enamel erosion caused by bulimia nervosa must be reversed by a dentist. What this entails depends on the degree of erosion, whether the tooth can be strengthened as is, or whether it must be protected by a dental restoration.
Remineralisation of Teeth
Superficial erosion (where the enamel has been thinned, although a sufficient layer still remains) can often be reversed with remineralisation. This involves an intensive fluoride treatment, with the fluoride leaving behind mineral deposits that help to strengthen dental enamel. However, more intensive measures are needed when the enamel is too thin or has entirely eroded.
Restoring Teeth
A dental restoration can be applied to your child's teeth to replace the missing enamel. This can be as simple as dental bonding, which is the application of a tooth-coloured composite resin to the distal surfaces of the teeth, which is contoured and dried and then becomes a type of artificial enamel. When the teeth need more comprehensive reinforcement, a dental crown (porcelain cap fitted over the tooth to completely surround it) may be the most appropriate option.
Teeth can be in the line of fire when someone has bulimia nervosa. While psychotherapy may be the primary form of treatment, it's important not to overlook the potential damage that this eating disorder can cause to your child's teeth. Talk to a dentist for more information.