Bulimia and oral health

The extended periods of intentional vomiting instigated by bulimics have a considerable impact on a patient’s dentition and can result in substantial oral health complications, including:

• The teeth become rounded, smooth and shiny and lose their surface characteristics

• Incisal edges appear translucent

• Cupping forms in the dentine

• Cervical lesions are shallow and rounded

• Restorations tend to be unaffected by erosion and will therefore stand proud of the surrounding tooth tissue. 

Alongside Beat (www.b-eat.co.uk), which helps sufferers in the UK beat their eating disorders and runs Eating Disorders Awareness Week (23 February - 1 March 2015) with the aim of raising awareness of the health implications of these disorders, practices like the London Tooth Wear Centre are working hard to tackle this increasingly prevalent oral health problem.

Advice rather than treatment features heavily during the initial stage of helping a patient suffering with bulimia. Diet analysis and general guidance on how to reduce the effect of acidic foodstuffs should be given and include: