May 31, 2022

To wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to talk about the dental health of patients with eating disorders. Many of my patients have serious dental issues. Over the years patients have presented with everything from a sudden onslaught of cavities in an individual who had never had a cavity in her life, to blackened teeth, tooth loss, and in one horrible case, not only did she lose all of her teeth, she also had a complete loss of the bones of her jaw.  This meant that she couldn’t have implants and would live the rest of her life as a toothless individual with a receding jaw. In other words, instead of looking like a 28-year-old, she looked like an 88-year-old.

So why would someone with an eating disorder be at more risk?

One obvious reason is that they are not getting the nutrients they need to sustain bones, teeth, hair, and nails. Another issue for many individuals with eating disorders is a serious lack of dental hygiene. In some cases, they worry that the toothpaste will cause them to gain weight, in other cases they cannot bear to engage in hygienic activities as it requires them to see themselves in the mirror.  

The reasons vary from individual to individual, as does the impact. But the bottom line is that oral health is a critical component to our general health. And while individuals with eating disorders are more at risk for serious complications, all of us are at risk for the life-threatening problems that can result from poor oral hygiene.

For example, are you aware that poor oral health can cause brain injury? That’s right. Science has shown us that there is a strong link between poor oral health and poor brain health. How is that even possible? It turns out your teeth and your brain are connected. In fact, there are multiple nerves in the oral cavity that attach to your brain. For instance, the trigeminal nerve is a cranial nerve that connects to your teeth, gums, jaw, and more. 

The result is that an untreated tooth infection can quickly become a brain infection. This happens when the tooth infection spreads to the bloodstream, which carries bacteria straight to the brain. At this point, the bacterial infection attacks neurons found in the brain, which can put you at risk of memory loss and other life-altering complications. In the most severe cases, a brain abscess can form. This is a rare condition in which pus invades the brain. 

Symptoms of brain infection from teeth include:

  • Fever

  • Lethargy

  • Headache

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Trouble remembering

  • Increased confusion

  • Reduced mobility

  • Vision changes

You’d be surprised how often this happens but goes undetected. In our society, we have a tendency to treat the symptoms and not even look for the causes let alone treat them. In cases such as these, treating the symptoms may help, or may make the situation worse. Better to be safe than sorry, which means it is better to identify the problem and treat it directly. Better yet, prevent the problem by using good oral hygiene. 

The most common disease caused by poor dental hygiene is dementia, or memory loss. At times, the memory loss caused by dementia can be so extreme that it impacts daily functioning. Of course, the worst-case scenario is that it becomes progressive and ends up being Alzheimer’s disease which is considered to be irreversible. Though dementia usually occurs in old age, it can happen much sooner if there are oral health complications involved. 

For example, I believe that premature or presenile dementia is often the result of poor dental hygiene that is never addressed. I have seen several cases in which the individual presented initially with symptoms of dementia and when we used coconut oil and generally cleaned up their oral hygiene, the dementia cleared up permanently. 

Again, coconut oil is a potent antibacterial that passes the blood-brain barrier and basically cleans it. Turns out that the only thing that has ever been shown to reverse Alzheimer’s is indeed coconut oil. 

Not only is coconut oil a potent antibacterial, but it is also an antiviral and antifungal. More importantly, it passes the blood-brain barrier and successfully treats brain infection, now believed to be the leading cause of dementia.

Here is a summary of what the research on dental hygiene tells us to date:

  • Tooth Infection And Memory Loss — A tooth infection can result in memory loss when the infection spreads to the brain. When your cavity reaches the tooth’s root, the infection threatens nerves and blood vessels, which directly connect to the brain. Stop the infection from spreading by maintaining proper oral hygiene, swishing with coconut oil, and being sure to visit your dentist on a regular basis.

  • Tooth Loss And Dementia — Studies show that severe tooth loss and dementia are also correlated. While the reason for the connection remains unproven, there is certainly a link. So if you have already lost a lot of your teeth, you might be at a higher risk of getting this brain disease.  Again visit your dentist regularly and do whatever it takes to improve your oral hygiene.

What exactly is bad oral hygiene?

Here are some examples:

  • Bad brushing habits 

  • Neglecting to floss

  • Grinding your teeth

  • Eating foods high in sugar

  • Smoking or chewing tobacco

And much more…

Here are some tips  for  improving oral hygiene:

  1. Brush your teeth 2-3 times per day

  2. Floss, or better yet use a waterpik. Put hydrogen peroxide or an organic mouthwash in the water for the water pic.

  3. Use an electric toothbrush or a good toothbrush and change it regularly especially if you get sick or the bristles begin to wear out.

  4. Use an oil pull, particularly coconut oil, on a regular basis. Use it more frequently if you are sick and especially if you have cavities.

  5. See your dentist at least twice a year to get your teeth cleaned and to address any possible cavities that you may have. Be proactive.

  6. Finally, if you have an eating disorder, understand that the nutrients your body lacks can have a catastrophic impact on your teeth. To prevent cavities it isn’t necessarily about how much you eat. It is about what you eat. So ditch the sugar and include the dairy in order to get vitamin D and calcium. (Do not supplement with calcium.) Supplement with fish oil. 

  7. Get sulfated vitamin D3 from Sunlight whenever possible. Do not overexpose skin, just get enough sunlight to raise your vitamin D3 levels. This is because vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphate — both of which are crucial for building and keeping strong tooth enamel. Without an adequate intake of vitamin D, our teeth are at risk for weakening and developing cavities.

  8. There is an amazing app called DMinder that tells you how much vitamin D3 you are getting depending upon the time of day, your latitude and longitude, and how bright the sun is on a particular day. It will also track your vitamin D levels. Very cool!

  9. The following foods have been shown to strengthen tooth enamel:

  • Green or black teas neutralize plaque-causing bacteria.

  • Sugar-free chewing gum helps promote saliva production.

  • Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber which cleans teeth naturally.

  • Foods high in protein help promote stronger teeth. First, dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and milk encourage your body to produce more saliva, protecting your teeth. Second, cheese and yogurt are high in calcium and protein, which helps strengthen your teeth.

As always, I practice what I preach and get great results. For the last several years my dentist, as well as my oral hygienists’, have commented repeatedly on the amazing uptick in the health of both my gums and my teeth. This probably sounds crazy, but I swear my tooth enamel feels stronger since I have bumped up my oral hygiene. My teeth look whiter, feel stronger, and according to my dentist, my gums are in perfect condition, especially compared to five years ago. Many people my age find themselves in a very different situation. My point? Good oral hygiene seems to work no matter what your age.