Bulimia and Your Mouth

On top of the the many other negative effects an eating disorder can have on your health, it can also wreak havoc on one's dental health. Bad breath is by far the least dental health worry related to bulimia or anorexia. In addition to the direct damage that stomach acid (introduced to your mouth from throwing up) does to your teeth, poor nutritional health makes it more difficult for your body to fight infections, including gum disease, which can lead to permanent damage to your teeth, their supporting bone structure, your gums, and eventually it may lead to tooth loss. Even though an eating disorder can have a profound affect on one's dental health, treating such a disease is not covered by your dental insurance. The effects of those diseases on one's teeth are just one of the many reasons to seek treatment immediately, before significant and potentially permanent damage is done to the victim's body. Psychiatric treatment relating to eating disorders is available in most school systems and universities. It is also covered by most standard health insurance policies.