Dentistry & Eating Disorders: Helping With Detection & Care - Amm Dental Mill Park.

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At AMM Dental Clinic – Mill Park, we offer the best oral health care services and treatment to restore your once dazzling smile back to its glore.

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Eating disorders are a terrible thing. Parents and loved ones who experience the destructive consequences of these modern scourges, often, find them heartbreaking. Today, we recognise eating disorders as serious illnesses, with psychological and physiological ramifications upon the health of individuals. Dentists can be the first port of call for those suffering from these potentially devastating conditions. Recognising the signs of an eating disorder is one of our responsibilities as dentists and health professionals.

 

The Dentist Identifying Eating Disorders

As clinicians, we are in the frontline for the detection of an eating disorder in our patients. We know, also, that early detection of an eating disorder can drastically improve the recovery chances of the individual. These conditions can affect people whatever their gender, age, and background. These are potentially life threatening illnesses and early intervention can save lives.

What Does An Eating Disorder Look Like?

They can involve eating too much and/or not eating enough. These conditions feature regular unhealthy and destructive eating habits. This can include restrictive dieting, compulsive eating, self-starvation, binge eating, self-induced purging, imbibing laxatives, and diet pills to name a few of the eating disorder manifestations commonly seen by dentists. You may be familiar with diagnostic names like Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Binge Eating Disorder.

Who Is More At Risk of Developing an Eating Disorder?

It is important to remember that anyone can develop an eating disorder. However, children, adolescents, women, athletes, and those with a family history of eating disorders are at greater risk of developing the condition. Culturally, women have more pressure put upon them to appear a certain way in body shape terms. Women’s bodies are, also, more susceptible to life cycle transitions during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.

 

Dentists & Oral Signs of Eating Disorders

Peering into people’s mouths puts dentists in the box seat to observe the oral signs of these illnesses. Not eating enough and eating too much all leave tell tale signs for observant dental clinicians to recognise. There can be enamel erosion and erosive lesions present. Difficulty in swallowing is a red light warning in many instances. Sore throats, dry mouth, and burning tongue sensation are other signs to watch out for. Swollen salivary glands may be present. Mucosal legions and pharyngeal abrasions are further things to be aware of. Gum sensitivity and/or bleeding gingiva can be an indicator of issues related to eating disorders. The mouth is the portal where food is supposed to go in and neglect or overuse is, often, clearly apparent.

What Can a Dentist Do Once The Signs Are Recognised?

Initiating a discussion with the patient is the first step in providing care. Dental clinicians are best advised to point out the physical issues they have found and the long term consequences of leaving them untreated. Approach the situation in a non-judgmental way. Speak privately with the patient about the matter. Be positive and reassuring about future treatments to rectify the damage. Reinforce the message that the patient is not alone in dealing with this kind of thing. Provide the patient with information pertinent to their problems. Denial can be a common response for those with an eating disorder. Be patient and avoid being critical. Encourage patients to seek help where appropriate. Have reliable information on hand for referrals to eating disorder counsellors, psychologists, and clinicians. Establish an ongoing clinical relationship for the treatment of the oral and dental issues.

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition that involves an unhealthy preoccupation with eating, exercise or body shape.

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of cultural background, gender or age. Eating disorders are estimated to affect approximately 4 in every 100 people in Australia (or about 1 million people in Australia). About 1 in 7 people experience disordered eating in their lifetime.

If you have an eating disorder, you may experience any the following:

    A preoccupation and concern about your appearance, food and gaining weight.

    Extreme dissatisfaction with your body — you would like to lose weight even though friends or family worry that you are underweight.

    A fear of gaining weight.

    You let people around you think you have eaten when you haven't.

    You are secretive about your eating habits because you know they are unhealthy.

    Eating makes you feel anxious, upset or guilty.

    You feel you are not in control around food.

    You keep checking your body — for example, weighing yourself or pinching your waist.

    Making yourself vomit or using laxatives in order to lose weight.

What are the common types of eating disorder?

There are several types of eating disorder, including:

Binge eating disorder (BED)

BED makes up almost half of all cases of eating disorder in Australia. People suffering from this disorder will frequently consume very large quantities of food, even when they are not hungry (known as 'binging'). They often feel shame and guilt after an eating binge; however, unlike people with bulimia nervosa (see next section), they do not purge their food. It is common for people with binge eating disorder to fast or go on diets in response to the way they feel after a binge.

Looking For Children Dentistry

A HEALTHY SMILE FOR YOUR CHILD

Amm Dental Mill park offers Children’s dental services at Mill Park, Bundoora, Epping, South Morang & Lalor. Kid’s dentistry – non invasive treatment for children’s teeth. Preventative treatment for tooth & teeth.

Children’s Dentistry. Your child should visit a dentist by age two or when the first couple of teeth coming through. Early examination and preventative care by AMM Dental Mill Park. Experienced Dentist Offering Childrens Dental care for people in Bundoora, Epping, South Morang & Lalor

As soon as the dentition process starts in a new born, the time to visit the dental hygienist arrives. An oral health assessment for kids is as important as it is for adults. Kids often fear visiting a dentist as the treatment procedures are often painful, but dental professionals at AMM strive hard to make sure their visit turns out to be a comfortable experience.