How Oral Health And Eating Disorders Are Related

Written By Kassandra Foreman / Reviewed By Ray Spotts 

Oral health is very dependent upon the vitamins and nutrients we eat and the amount that our body has available for use. Eating disorders can affect the health of gums and teeth by not providing the necessary nutrients to keep them healthy, as well as increased acidity in the mouth that eats at the tooth enamel leading to cavities and gum disease.

Having poor oral health can make it harder to eat a regular diet and may increase the possibility of developing an eating disorder.

Enamel health and eating disorders

Teeth are dependent upon nutrients like calcium and vitamins to grow healthy and remain strong. Providing proper care can help them remain strong well into adulthood.

When an eating disorder develops, this balance of vitamins and nutrients is likely to suffer, and the teeth will not have what they need to keep the enamel strong and cavity free. This leads to not only tooth decay but gum disease as well, and when left untreated can lead to tooth loss down the road.

Mouth acidity and eating disorders

Evidence has shown that having an eating disorder often leads to an increase in the acidity of the mouth. This occurs both as the stomach acid is not well controlled and also when purging is a concern. Vomiting frequently increases the acidity of the mouth and saliva which eats away at the enamel on the teeth.

While brushing and flossing can help it will not prevent damage from occurring if the concern is ongoing.

Food limitations and an eating disorder

As with general dental care it is important to brush and floss teeth twice daily, and rinsing between is beneficial. It is important to keep the amount of acid in the mouth at a controlled minimum to protect the teeth from damage.

As the damage to teeth increases it may become harder to eat foods like fruits and vegetables, which are known to lose many of their nutrients through cooking. This leads to a circular concern where the damage from an eating disorder can create food limitations that exacerbate the eating disorder.

Eating disorders affect every aspect of life for those who battle with them. It will limit the nutrients that are needed to maintain healthy teeth, and many eating disorders will increase the acid within the mouth.

It is best to discuss any eating disorder not only with a family doctor but also with the dentist to form a plan to stay as healthy as possible. It is possible to restore tooth health during treatment.

While some of the damage may be permanent, treatment options are available to rebuild teeth and repair the appearance in some cases. Teeth must be brushed and flossed and regular dental appointments maintained for the health of the teeth.

Looking for a 100% all-natural liquid tooth oil and mouth rinse? Check out OraMD Original Strength and OraMD Extra Strength. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral care, skincare, body care and foot care. If you are looking for more health resources check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Kassandra Foreman has been writing freelance for five years now and enjoys learning about new things to write about. When not writing she teaches yoga and meditation with a focus on health and fitness.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash