Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Dental problems from Bulimia

Hi, I was bulimic for about only 3 and a half months. Very recently I have managed to stop with the help of confiding in my boyfriend, and from the scary images I've seen on the internet about the long term effects from the sickness. I am writing you because I am very concerned about my teeth. I love my teeth and am very proud of  them, it is so scary to see what happens to your teeth. So far they appear to be fine but I can't find much information about how long it takes for this to happen to your teeth. Can you PLEASE tell me if my teeth will remain to be ok, now that I have stopped purging, or should I worry about them? Also I have to go into the hospital this week for a colonoscopy, because of a lot of blood in my bowel movements sometimes, could this be caused from Bulimia? and if so, can they tell that it is from Bulimia? I am only 15 and do not want my parents to find out what I was. Please help me I am so worried. thanks.
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Hi everyone. I'm really nervous about something and I thought I would ask you guys if you could help me. About 2 years ago I was bulimic and my teeth never really bothered me until lately. I had been sick for a little while,(not bulimic) throwing up a lot because of a stomach flu a couple of weeks ago and my teeth have been really bothering me lately, the back of them seem to be decaying quite a bit. I never wanted to make a dentist appointment but I decided it was the right thing to do befoer it got worse so I made one. What Im really worried about is if the dentist will be able to tell that I was bulimic (I was bulimic for about a year) but now, two years later, will a lot of the signs be gone or will she still be able to tell? Im really afraid because I havent told anyone before and Im scared she'll tell my parents,and I really don't need that. Im not bulimic any more, Ive stopped and now eat healthy and excercise and am very happy but Im really worried: any advice? anything at all will mean a lot. thank you!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Tasha,
My heart goes out to you.  Regardless of any other problem, I think you should consider confiding in your parents about what has been going on.  I congratulate you on stopping, but am worried that you say it has only been very recently that you stopped purging.  
Tasha, bulimia is a very hard condition to recover from on your own.  If you find yourself doing it again, even ONCE, it is time for your parents to know so that they may help you recover from this sometimes deadly illness.  They shouldn't be mad or angry, but they may feel confused and worried.  Sometimes parents get an edge to their voice that makes you think they are mad when they really are just very worried and may not know what to do themselves.  Your parents may need some education about bulimia, too in order to understand that this isn't something you're doing for fun or something you can just stop doing.  It is an illness, one that is very pervasive and hard to recover from without help.  Not impossible, but just hard.

So if you find yourself doing it again--as I said, even one more time--your parents must know so that they can help you.  If you really feel you can't talk to them, see a guidance counselor at school and ask for help to talk to your parents.  You are not the first teen to suffer from this, and a guidance counselor or school nurse should be able to help you talk to your parents.

As to the blood in your stool, are you using laxatives at all?  It could also be blood in your stool from vomiting.  Vomiting can irritate the stomach and esophagus and cause it to bleed.  The blood can then travel through the intestines and come out in your stool.  Or it could well be something completely unrelated to the bulimia.  I don't think the doctor will be able to tell you've been purging simply through the colonoscopy, if that is what you're worried about.  

Good luck, and please take care.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am glad to hear that you are no longer purging. It might be a good idea to get some professional help so that you can remain healthy. As far as your teeth are concerned it takes longer than three months to do any major damage to your teeth. On the other hand, purging can do a tremendous damage over an extended period of time. The gastric juices will erode the enamel from your teeth causing some major problems.Get a check up with your dentist and let he or she know that the problem exists. I can't comment on the blood in your stool for a lack of knowledge in that area. Good luck!
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Dental Health Forum

Popular Resources
If you suffer from frequent headaches, jaw clicking and popping ear pain, you may have TMJ. Top dentist Hamidreza Nassery, DMD, has the best TMJ treatments for you.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.