Photo by Horia Varlan
So how do eating disorders affect your oral health? Your mouth and gums needs proper nutrition to keep the whole picture healthy. Without this, your mouth may easily bleed, your glands may swell, or you could experience chronic dry mouth.
The constant vomiting can also cause harm to your teeth. When stomach acids constantly touch the teeth, the tooth enamel can be damaged and the teeth can change shape and color. The teeth can also become weak and thin causing them to break. Certain foods may also cause the teeth to become sensitive to hot or cold.
If you have an eating disorder, or know someone who does, you should consult with your dentist about any suggested treatment. Seeing your dentist regularly is important to stay on top of any potential dental treatment.
Photo by Horia Varlan
Did you know that roughly 10 million Americans currently suffer from eating disorders? Eating disorders tend to be more common in teenage girls young woman, but anyone can suffer from the disorder. Those with eating disorders can be seriously injured from the complications it can cause the body, but a person’s oral health can also be affected by the disorder.
The two eating disorders we will discuss will be bulimia and anorexia. People with bulimia have a constant worry and fear of being overweight. They can also suffer from periods of binge eating. After the binge, the individual usually feels very weak and out of control. They may try to make things better by throwing up what they have just eaten.
People with anorexia usually have a fear or gaining weight or a constant dread of being fat. These individuals can be very thin yet they still see themselves as overweight. People with anorexia may exercise excessively and limit themselves to a very small amount of calories per day.
But how do these eating disorders affect your oral health? Read our blog later this week to find out!
Photo by Darwin Bell
Why do some people experience dry mouth? Dry mouth can be a side effect of a medication that a person is taking. Some medications that can cause dry mouth include: decongestants, high blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and antihistamines.
Some problems that may occur due to dry mouth are difficulty swallowing, persistent sore throat, and a dry nasal passage. Dry mouth can eventually cause damage to your teeth. Without proper saliva to wash food away and lubricate your mouth, decay can occur.
If you suffer from dry mouth you can try chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate the flow of saliva. You can also try oral rinses such as biotene or ACT Total Care Dry Mouth. If you have constant dry mouth you should consult your dentist for further recommendations.
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We’re still counting down the days until our 2012 Dentistry from the Heart event. As of today there are only 23 more days until the big event!
Dentistry from the Heart is a nation-wide event that provides free dental services to people in need. There is a list of all the different clinics that will be participating in the event on Dentistry form the Heart’s main page.
This year our office will be hosting our 6th annual Dentistry from the Heart event on Friday, February 24th. On this day we offer one extraction or one filling to new patients who attend the event. All services are based on a first come first serve basis as we try to see as many patients as we can.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or continue reading our blogs for more information as the days get closer!
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Do you need some dental work completed, but don’t have the out-of-pocket expense to cover the treatment? Our office offers three different payment plan/financing options.
The first and most popular option is Care Credit. Care Credit can be used in many dental offices, vet clinics, and eye care clinics. Care Credit offers 0% for 12 month payment plans with purchases of at least $300.00. You can apply in our office or online for Care Credit. Their website will tell you instantly if you are approved!
The second option is Chase Health Advance. Chase is also a 0% for 12 month payment plan that you are able to apply for online. Chase requires minimum purchases of $1,000 to qualify for 0%. The final option is Citibank Health Card. The Citi plan requires a minimum purchase of $250 for 0% for 6 months. Here is the online link to the Citibank healthcare payment plan.
Check out which plan would work best for your personal situation and be able to get the treatment you need!
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