A Suffolk dentist warns eating disorders impact people's health more than they realise
They say they've seen a rise in the number of people showing signs of an Eating Disorder
A dentist in Ipswich is urging greater awareness of the impact eating disorders can have on oral health.
Dr Codrin Tocca, a general dental practitioner at Lighthouse Dental Practice, said one of the earliest warning signs can be damage to tooth enamel caused by acid exposure.
He explained that dentists can sometimes spot the effects during routine check-ups.
“The quick spot sign is actually an erosion of the dental enamel, which means that the enamel gets thinner, a bit more translucent.
“They could show the edges of the teeth being chipped and sharp.”
He said this kind of damage can be caused by the “acid effect on the hard tissue of the tooth”, which may occur through either the intake of certain foods or the production of acids.
However, Dr Tocca stressed that enamel erosion does not automatically mean someone has an eating disorder.
“Not everyone with dental erosion suffers from any mental conditions like anorexia or bulimia or binge eating disorders,” he said.
“It may be that people are more aware of the five-a-day recommendations and eat fruit very often.”
He told us that if a dentists spots something that could be concerning they will gently have a conversation with their patient around diet and habits.
“We explain the likely reason for it… and we gently ask the patient if they’re aware of any possible condition or dietary habits that may lead to this.”
Younger patients are more often affected
Dr Tocca said the issue is most commonly seen among teenagers and young adults, and that they've seen a rise, with more people presenting with these issues.
He believes this may be linked to several factors.
“There’s definitely a rise of acid erosion in society.
“It may be a combination both of an increase in these mental health conditions, but also actually from changed dietary habits.”
Dr Tocca said diets high in acidic foods can also contribute to tooth damage.
He often advises patients to moderate their intake of certain fruits.
“I would quite very often strongly recommend for them to concentrate on vegetables rather than eating a lot of fruit, which is acidic and damaging for the teeth.”
Long-term damage can develop slowly
Dental erosion often progresses gradually, meaning patients may not realise there is a problem until significant damage has occurred.
“The problem with dental erosion is that it goes very slowly,” Dr Tocca said.
“It could develop over several years without developing the symptoms, so patients may not be aware of it.”
Over time, he said the damage can affect how the teeth fit together.
“What happens, the relation between the teeth is maintained, so the bite is changed and it becomes very difficult as young adults to restore the teeth later on.”
In severe cases, erosion can reach deeper parts of the tooth.
“If the erosion goes very deep it could reach the nerves and cause infections and pain,” he said.
Dr Tocca added that oral infections can also have wider health implications.
“Infections from teeth and the oral cavity are now reported and linked to medical diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer and lots of other medical diseases.”
Importance of early support
Dr Tocca said dentists play a role in helping patients access the right support, but treatment for eating disorders requires a wider medical approach.
“Because it is a mental health disorder, this needs to be treated by several teams,” he said.
“We need to check that they have good contact with the GP.”
If necessary, dentists may encourage patients to seek further help.
“We can prompt them to see contact with the GP. There’s also other informative websites and organisations who may work with that.”
He said support networks are also important.
“For young adults, friends and family are important support groups.”
Raising awareness
Dr Tocca believes more awareness is needed about how eating disorders can affect oral health.
“I don’t think people immediately realise how much damage the teeth can suffer, particularly over several years of suffering from anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorders.”
He encouraged people to speak with their dentist if they have concerns.
“It’s very important to raise awareness about the dental implications of eating disorders,” he said.
“If you know as a patient that you have an eating disorder and your dentist has not mentioned anything about the state of your teeth, it’s very helpful to ask your dentist about that.”
Regular check-ups and good dental care can help limit damage, he added.
“Keep regular appointments, avoid extra intake of acids, use high fluoride toothpaste and eat a healthy diet.”