Can a dentist tell if you have an eating disorder? Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that can have a devastating impact on a person's physical and mental health. While there are many different types of eating disorders, they all share one common feature: an unhealthy relationship with food. People with eating disorders may severely restrict their food intake, binge eat, or purge their food through vomiting or excessive exercise.
Dentists are often the first healthcare professionals to notice signs of an eating disorder. This is because eating disorders can have a significant impact on a person's oral health. For example, people with anorexia nervosa may have tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems due to malnutrition. People with bulimia nervosa may have eroded teeth due to repeated vomiting.
