Bulimia – Charlotte Dentist | Cosmetic, Laser, Family Dentistry

What does Heartburn have to do with Teeth?

It's not uncommon for me to ask a new patient at our Charlotte dental office, "Do you have any issues with acid reflux/heartburn?" It's also not uncommon for that new patient to ask in response, "Why do you ask?" The answer is simple and easy to understand once you think about it, but most people never stop to think about it, so here's why I ask. Compare the Acidity of Popular Sodas & Sports Drinks with Stomach Acid Take a look at the graph below (click on it to see a larger version), provided courtesy of GC America, maker of MI Paste & MI Paste Plus for remineralizing teeth, and look how far down the list stomach acid is. Right above battery acid! Now.......just imagine what happens if a little bit of that stomach acid gets back into your mouth. Hmmmmm???? After all, everyone knows that sodas are bad for your teeth, but stomach acid is even worse. Whether it is from heartburn, regular vomiting, bulimia, it doesn't matter, the acidity will literally eat away the enamel of your teeth by "sucking" the minerals out. Heartburn & Pregnancy I can't begin to count the number of women who have told me, "I had perfect teeth until after my second baby!" After viewing the chart, that statement actually starts to make sense, doesn't it? After all, babies put a lot of pressure on the stomach, hormones create morning sickness, and what you end up with is an extended period of time when the teeth are being frequently exposed to stomach acid. For many women, multiple pregnancies really do make it worse, and it is not uncommon to see a sudden increase in cavities during or shortly [...]

By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:35:43-04:00 January 6th, 2011|Broken tooth, Bulimia|0 Comments

NPR and Dan Ariely on Dentistry

First off, let me say that I have been an NPR supporter (yes, including financial support) for many years, so please do not misunderstand my post and think I am bashing NPR itself. HOWEVER.........I have an axe to grind with Mr. Robert Siegel of All Things Considered, the evening news program that used to be one of my favorite programs for the drive home from work. And it all has to do with the particular intervew with Professor Dan Ariely, of Duke's Fuqua School of Business in Durham, NC, about dentistry, which was aired on Tuesday, October 5th. Please take a moment to read the transcript: [...]

By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:43:03-04:00 October 11th, 2010|Broken tooth, Bulimia, Cavities|0 Comments

Dr. Oz talks about Periodontal (Gum) Disease and Total Health

I guess it's because I don't watch a lot of TV, but I confess that - until quite recently - I had absolutely no idea who this guy Dr. Oz is. A friend recently told me that Dr. Oz has some really good material about dental health that can be shared, and since it's sometimes easier to use someone else's material instead of having to write it all from scratch myself :-) , I figured I'd check it out, and WOW! I'm impressed! It's sad to say, but many physicians really have no idea about how the health of the mouth is connected to the rest of the body, and how valuable their dental colleagues can be in diagnosing a number of medical conditions. Dr. Oz is definitely not one of them! I'll kick things off here with one of his articles. I have added some bold italics for emphasis (all mine). [...]

By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:43:20-04:00 July 13th, 2010|Broken tooth, Bruxism & Parafunction, Bulimia, Cavities, Migraine headaches, Periodontal (Gum) Disease, Sleep Apnea & Snoring, Snoring|0 Comments

Does dentistry last forever?

How long will my dental work last? "It depends." This is a question that we get a lot, and it's a very understandable one, especially if you're about to invest your hard-earned money into your mouth, right? Just like a car, your teeth and gums require regular care to ensure that they are working properly. Sure, you can go 10-20,000 miles between oil changes given how improved cars are nowadays, but do you really want to take the risk? Same thing with teeth..........some people go for 5-10 years with no dental check-ups and are fortunate when they come in to find no problems, such as cavities or gum disease. But not many people are so lucky! I always remember a quote from some lecturer at a dental conference years ago telling us his response to this question, and it's really the most honest, best answer that can be given, "Clearly the teeth that God gave you haven't lasted your entire life, and since I'm not nearly as talented as God, my work won't last forever either." What Can Cause Dental Work to Fail? Grinding your teeth -- when the human jaw clenches, it can create an amazing amount of force, and over time, enough clenching will cause teeth to crack and break. Acidity -- anything that increases the acidity in your mouth is good for the bacteria that cause cavities, including Acid Reflux, Sodas, Power drinks (Monster, Red Bull, etc), Sports drinks (Gatorade, Powerade, etc). A very sugary diet -- the bacteria that cause cavities love sugar. High sugar content means the bacteria feed like crazy, produce acid, and the acid is what eats away the teeth to cause cavities. A weak immune system -- [...]

By Charles Payet| 2017-06-09T20:44:44-04:00 June 30th, 2009|Broken tooth, Bruxism & Parafunction, Bulimia, Cavities, Cosmetic dentistry, Dental Philosophy of Care|0 Comments

A Complete Smile Makeover with Porcelain Crowns for Teeth Damaged by Bulimia

Acid Erosion from Bulimia Damages Teeth There are many reasons patients come to see me for cosmetic dentistry. One of the most common reasons is because their teeth are badly worn down from grinding, often in combination with acid erosion that has eaten away at the enamel. Treating these cases can be complex, because if we don't properly diagnose and solve the problem that caused the worn, eroded teeth in the first place, then any cosmetic dentistry is sure to fail very fast. When Jenni (not her real name, as she prefers to stay anonymous) first came to see me through a referral back in 2005 for a Smile Makeover consultation, she admitted that she had suffered from bulimia as a teen, about 20 years prior. She had recovered from this debilitating disease and had been leading a healthy, normal life for many years, but her teeth had been so eroded that she was extremely self-conscious and embarrassed by her smile. Control the Cause of Erosion, or Your Work Will Fail Since Jenni's original issue had been addressed medically, we were safe moving forward with a greatly decreased risk of acid erosion causing problems again, although bulimics are at a much higher risk of GERD/acid reflux. In cases like this, we use a combination of products to protect the teeth and dental work, because the teeth are still at a greater risk of future decay, due to all the previous damage. I've discussed many of the products we recommend in my post, There's No Such Thing as Soft Teeth, if this is a concern. [...]