Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious eating disorder that can affect many areas of your physical health, including your teeth. BED involves eating very large amounts of food, even when you are no longer feeling hungry. Many people already know that an eating disorder like bulimia can harm their oral health since vomiting will quickly wear away tooth enamel. Though BED does not generally involve purging in this fashion, it can still have an adverse effect on your teeth.
Here are just four ways this can happen.
1. Persistent Erosion
Binge eating often means eating more than three meals a day, and it usually involves exposing your teeth to food for longer during each session of eating. This is a problem since it means the bacteria in your mouth will have a constant supply of food and therefore produce acid throughout the day. With more acid being produced, tooth enamel will erode at a faster rate. This process tends to be exacerbated by the fact that people with BED often binge on highly acidic or sugary foods.
2. Acid Reflux
If you've ever had a large meal, you'll probably have experienced acid reflux. This occurs when acidic gastric fluid flows from the stomach into the oesophagus. This is often a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which involves a chronic backflow of stomach acid. When your teeth are exposed to that highly acidic fluid, the enamel will be significantly weakened. This can lead to discolouration, sensitivity and visible wear to the surface of your teeth. This is more likely to occur after binge eating since eating too much increases your risk of suffering from acid reflux or GERD.
3. Decreased Saliva Production
Many people assume that saliva simply helps prevent their mouths from drying out and assists with chewing, but it also helps keep your mouth healthy. Saliva controls acidity, washes away food particles and provides vital nutrients for your teeth and gums. However, persistent binge eating can lead to chronic dry mouth or simply a temporary decrease in saliva production. Without a proper supply of saliva, your mouth will be less able to keep itself healthy.
4. Staining
Finally, it's worth keeping in mind that chronic eating will increase your teeth's exposure to staining compounds, especially if you snack throughout the day. As such, people with BED often find that their teeth become discoloured and that whitening treatments don't last as long. While this is only a cosmetic issue, it's often the first sign that binge eating may be affecting your oral health.
Contact your dental services provider to learn more.
