If you recently went through treatment for anorexia and are now trying to gain weight and become healthier, you may want to schedule a visit to your dentist. Anorexia is an eating disorder that can lead to a lot of health problems, and it can also lead to oral problems. Here are some of the common oral problems people experience when they have anorexia.

Xerostomia

Xerostomia is a condition that is best known as dry mouth. This condition is very common with seniors, but it is also common with people who have anorexia. Xerostomia occurs with people who suffer from anorexia because of the way nutritional deficiencies can affect the saliva glands. When you deprive yourself of food, it can cause your salivary glands to become bigger, and this can lead to a loss of production of saliva.

Without the proper amount of saliva in your mouth, your mouth may always feel dry. In addition, saliva is vital for the health of your teeth, because it actually cleans the teeth. If you do not have enough of it, you may experience more decay on your teeth. Treating xerostomia is not easy to do, and it may require taking medication and chewing sugar-free gum each day.

Tooth erosion from stomach acid

Acid is what eats away at the enamel on teeth, and you must limit the acid in your mouth to keep your teeth healthy and cavity free. Unfortunately, people with anorexia often force themselves to vomit repeatedly after eating. Each time this happens, acid from the stomach comes in contact with the teeth. This acid ends up eating away at a person's teeth, and it can leave a person with anorexia with major tooth decay.

Tooth sensitivity

As the enamel wears off of your teeth, it usually leads to extremely sensitive teeth. This occurs because enamel protects teeth. Once it is gone, the inner parts of the teeth are exposed, and this is the leading cause of tooth sensitivity. In order to fix this problem, you will need to have all of your cavities removed and filled. You may also need to have composite bonding placed on your teeth to cover your teeth.

As you recover from this type of eating disorder, you should consider having your teeth checked too. Anorexia can have a lot of negative effects on your body, and a dentist will be able to help you treat all the problems you have with your teeth.

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