Tips for dentists: What to say?
About 38 % of bulimic patients experience tooth
enamel erosion. Physicians Steele and Mehler state that
apparent enamel destruction indicates at least 2 years
of regular vomiting. Also common are enlarged parotid
glands, usually painless but apparent upon examination.
The National Eating Disorder Association offers tips
for dentists to address the problem:
Introduce the issue: "I am noticing (name the
conditions) on you teeth, gums, tongue, etc. This is
something I have seen in individuals who engage in
eating disorder behavior"
Ask for more information: "Can you tell me about
any behaviors you may be currently en
gaged in that could be having this effect on your
mouth?"
Provide resources: "Are you currently seeking
professional help related to these behaviors?"
Discuss next steps: "While you are seeking help I'd
like to suggest some immediate options for improving
your oral health (rinse with baking soda vs. brushing
after vomiting, use of tart candies and hot compresses
to manage swelling etc.)
Steele, A.W. & Mehler, P.S. (1999) Oral and Dental
Complications. In P.S. Mehler & A.E. Anderson (Eds.) Eating
Disorders A Guide to Medical Care and Complications (pp. 144
-152). Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press.
Eating Disorders adversely affect childrearing
Parents have
less attunement
...due to
preoccupation
with weight and
shape.
Women with eating disorders fear the impact of their
behavior on their children and need additional support
to create healthy routines.
Parental eating disorders are shown to impact
childrearing in broad ways including underfeeding
children, higher mealtime conflict, higher levels of
criticism of eating habits and appearance, and less
attunement with the child due to the preoccupation
with weight and shape. Also, eating disorder behavior
may be associated with troubled family and marital
relationships.
Parents may need help to recognize children's hunger
and satiety cues, with the preparation and pacing of a
child's meal, and realizing the importance of demand
feeding for infants. Spouses and friends are important
allies when providing support and education to eating
disordered patients.
When possible, it is advisable to recommend a patient
delay pregnancy until the eating disorder is resolved.
Introduction to Intuitive Eating Group
A brief psycho-educational group in Cary will
introduce participants to the Intuitive Eating approach
as described in the book Intuitive Eating: A
Revolutionary Program that Works by Tribole & Resch.

The group will help members learn how to (a) reject the
diet mentality, (b) honor hunger and feel fullness, (c )
make peace with food, and (d) feel feelings without
using food by combining psycho-
education and emotional support to members.
For women who consider themselves chronic dieters,
binge, compulsive and/or emotional eaters. Women
with binge purge disorder who are medically stable are
also appropriate. All shapes and sizes are welcome.
Group will meet six Friday mornings beginning
February. Details at www.fulllifeconsulting.com.