Bulimia Nervosa

If you have an eating disorder, you could suffer from oral health problems. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have a number of behaviors that can cause changes in the mouth. Binge eating, self-induced vomiting, and use of diuretics or laxatives are abrasive and also impact your overall health.

Repeated episodes of vomiting, a common result in people with bulimia can release harmful stomach acids that pass through the mouth. These acids can erode tooth enamel. In turn that can cause cavities, discoloration, and tooth loss. Other problems may be braces or fillings that don’t fit properly. This is yet another byproduct of such eating disorders.

If you brush after any episodic vomiting it can actually do more harm than good. Your best practice would be to rinse thoroughly with a neutral solution. A good example would be baking soda and water.