The word bulimia comes from the Greek boulimia meaning " the hunger of an ox ", ultimately from the Greek words bous meaning ox and limos meaning hunger. It's when a person eats a great deal of food in a short time (binging) and forces herself to throw up to get rid of the food (purging). It creates a severe problem for the teeth because the stomach acid thrown up coats the teeth and digests them. This bulimia effect can cause a patient to lose all her teeth in her twenties.

          There is a lot of shame and embarrassment for the bulimia patient and the patient usually tries hard to hide the fact that she is throwing up. Many close relatives of the patient never realize that she is throwing up and because of this, dental treatment is often not begun until it is too late.

          Most bulimia patients are really good people who sought to please their parents as youths, were very good students and often have actively participated in athletics. They are driven individuals. However, these patients often have low self esteem, are over dependent on the approval of others and have difficulty expressing anger. A patient's feeling of being out of control, along with being disgusted at her own behavior, can lead to depression.

          The backs of the upper front teeth are the first to go in a bulimia patient. When the patient throws up, the digesting food is hurled against the backs of the upper front teeth and the backs of these teeth begin to melt away ( tooth erosion ). When the enamel coating goes the back of the teeth look yellow because the underlying dentin is yellow. The treatment needed is to place crowns with carefully hidden thin metal backs on all the upper front teeth. An early sign of this enamel loss and dentin exposure is tooth sensitivity and gum inflammation, gingivitis.

          As bulimia progresses the enamel on the backs of the upper molar teeth also dissolve. The needed treatment is again the same, crowns. If left untreated, the patient's exposed dentin is susceptible to dental cavities. Fillings can be helpful but fillings do not totally cover and protect the teeth against stomach acids. Without dental treatment the patient's teeth will continue to decay and digest away until all the teeth are killed. At this point the teeth can only be saved with root canal therapy and then crowned to protect what is left of each tooth. The stomach acid that melts the teeth can also cause inflamation of the esophagus, sore throats, and hoarseness of speech. Unfortunately, without treatment, the dental problems will continue until all the teeth are completely destroyed.

          The parotids enlarge in patients with bulimia giving the patient enlarged jowls and an enlarged looking lower jaw. At first the swelling is soft but later becomes hard and permanent with continued vomiting.The parotid glands are located on the back lower sides of the face at the corner of the lower jaw. They make saliva to moisten food while you chew and are the glands that swell up when you have mumps.

          In some cases, the bulimia patient's bite changes so much that it becomes incompatible with the patient's jaw joints. The result is constant TMJ related facial pains.

           Many patients force two fingers of their right hands down their throats to induce vomiting. As a result, sores sometimes develop in a patient's hand just below the knuckle where the hand pushed on the upper front teeth.In some cases, bulimia patients will develop oral lacerations and bruises from the use of various objects to induce vomitting.

           Because of the secrecy, alienation, embarrassment, and deep shame, many patients feel that nothing can be done for them. Medically untreated bulimia can lead to infertility, kidney infections, urinary tract infections, heart irregularities, and even death. Dentally untreated it can lead to complete destruction of all teeth and ultimately, the need for dentures. The dental aspects must be treated because they are irreversible and devastating.

          The destruction of a bulimia tooth is from stomach acid in the vomit. Hydrochloric acid (HCL) is the primary harmful acid. If the hydrochloric acid is neutralized and removed immediately, the effect of bulimia on the teeth is lessened. Bases neutralize acids. Bicarbonate of Soda (Arm and Hammer Baking Soda) can be dissolved in water and stored in a bottle in your refrigerator. If this solution is swished in the mouth immediately upon vomiting, it neutralizes the hydrochloric acid and reduces the effects of the acid.

           It is important to seek dental care if you have bulimia and to openly share with the dentist what is happening. Many dentists are caring professional people who understand the problems and want to help. Without the dentist's help, the dental consequences of your condition can be severe.

           Dr. Padolsky and the dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC can usually provide all of the dental services needed to restore a bulimia patient back to good dental health in a confidential and private manner. Additionally, Dr. Padolsky can help a patient manage her condition so that, even if the patient is continuing to have problems, the dental consequences are lessened or eliminated.

           The Atlanta Dental Group PC dental services can be specially arranged for a bulimia patient so that all needed dental treatment can be intensively completed in a short period of time. This makes it possible for patients from out of town to complete there desperately needed dental care confidentially and in as few visits as possible. The Atlanta Dental Group, PC can also assist in obtaining the funds for this care so everything that needs to be done can be completed.

          Dr. Padolsky has successfully cared for many bulimia patients and would be pleased to meet with you in a confidential consultation. You can privately discuss your alternatives. He understands that you are struggling with every bulimia symptom and that it may take time to deal with the consequences. Privately speaking with Dr. Padolsky can be your first step in conquering your problem. Please consider calling  404-874-7428  and scheduling a consultation. You do not have to say why you are visiting, just that you would like a private consultation. If calling for an appointment is too embarrassing, you can first e-mail  Dr. Padolsky  or you can schedule a consultation and privately email him to let Dr. Padolsky know that you wish to talk.