Why Excessive Vomiting Can Ruin Your Teeth
Certain groups are at particular risk of this problem.
It is probably not a subject that many of us like to think about, and we hope that you aren’t eating as you read our latest blog. The truth is though, that regular vomiting can have a serious effect on your teeth, even going so far as to destroy the enamel if this happens over a period of time.
Whilst occasionally being sick should do little long term damage to your teeth, providing that otherwise you look after them well, there are two categories of patients who may experience this particular problem more frequently.
Mums to be
We have mentioned before that, during pregnancy, the changes in hormones in your body mean that gum disease is more likely than normal. This is not the only problem during this time though.
Although some women are little troubled by it, morning sickness is a major problem for many and a long period of frequent morning vomiting can cause damage to your teeth. As you are sick, stomach acids pass over the teeth. This is quite a corrosive substance and can soon strip away some of the protective enamel that helps to prevent decay and damage to the inner sections of your teeth.
Eating disorder sufferers
Patients of our Burton dental surgery who suffer from eating disorders are also more likely than others to have this problem. This particularly applies to bulimia sufferers who tend to binge eat and then voluntarily vomit afterwards in order to empty the stomach. As this can happen several times a day, it is not hard to see the extent of damage that can be done over a longer period of time.
In both of these instances, there is probably little that can be done in the short term. Morning sickness will eventually subside and hopefully, eating disorder sufferers will receive appropriate treatment. It is important that you make sure to keep your teeth clean to minimise any damage that is done. You should also visit Mike Allen’s Dental Practice on a regular basis so that we can help you with this.
Following your pregnancy and after eating disorder treatment, you may need to have dental veneers fitted to replace the damaged enamel depending on the extent of any damage. This will not only improve the appearance of your teeth, but will also help to prevent problems that arise when the enamel is compromised; namely tooth decay and root canal infections.
Even in challenging circumstances, you should not underestimate the help that your local dentist can give you. If you fall into one of these categories, or have a specific challenging issue, we are always happy to help you where we can. In the first instance, please call Mike Allen’s Dental Practice in Burton to arrange a consultation where we can discuss any issues and arrange a treatment plan where necessary. You can contact us by calling 01283 845345.