Teeth & Destructive Health Habits

What Your Children Don’t Tell You About Destructive Health Habits And Addictions Their Teeth Might

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. The condition of a child’s teeth can provide parents with vital clues to their children’s health and habits such as cigarette smoking, marijuana use, and the potentially deadly eating disorders anorexia and bulimia. Dr. Clifford Williams is a Manhattan dentist who has been able to red flag conditions of the teeth that may elude even the most doting parents. He shares tips and insights that can provide mothers and fathers with information the teeth may reveal, even when their child does not

Bulimia-Nearly 1.5 million women in the United States suffer from bulimia and twenty-eight percent of cases are first diagnosed during dental examinations. Bulimia is characterized by binge-eating and then purging – very often through vomiting. And when teeth are repeatedly bathed in acid from the stomach, the tooth’s enamel begins to erode causing sensitivity, thinning and chipping.

"It may seem like ordinary tooth decay to that individual or their friends and family, but dental erosion from vomiting follows a different pattern that many dental professionals recognize," says Dr. Williams. "Ordinary tooth decay occurs more often on the biting surface of the back teeth in the form of a crevice or hole. Dental erosion, however, occurs primarily on the inside of the front teeth, which eventually might cause them to appear rotted and crumbling, especially around the biting edges." Bulimics who vomit may purge up to 40 times a day, dissolving the enamel and exposing the ugly yellow dentin layer underneath leading to pain and possible tooth death. But if this discomfort is what prompts someone to visit the dentist, it may be too late. "Once the dentin is exposed, the tooth is in trouble," continues Dr. Williams, whose cosmetic practice sees a tremendous amount of female patients. "Since you can't replace the enamel, the next step is often uncomfortable and invasive reconstructive dentistry." But if the bulimia continues, the acid will eventually disrupt and possibly even loosen the restorations. "Repairing teeth from the effects of bulimia is expensive, but it's not a reason for which I ever want to see someone in my dental chair."

Anorexia-"Severe and almost total disintegration of the enamel would be apparent," says Dr. Williams. The teeth will become rough and jagged because the enamel becomes dissolved and broken. Frequently, anorexics will even develop sores on the inside of the mouth as jagged teeth jut into the cheek lining. Anorexics may also report a broken tooth, which is a symptom of the teeth wearing down over time.

Cigarette Smoking- Up to 60 percent of adult smokers began smoking by the age of 13, and every day 3,000 young people in America start smoking. Parents might be able to snuff out this habit before it becomes a serious addiction by recognizing it in the early stages. Stains from smoking usually occur on the inside part of the teeth before they become apparent on the outside. If parents see a light brown excessive staining at the gum line this might be a strong indication that the child is smoking. If parents do not want to arouse suspicion, a visit to the dentist can confirm staining on the inside that would point to cigarette smoking. If the child is under 18, a parent can bring this concern to the dentist and ask him to confirm or dispel it through an examination. This would also hold true for cigar and pipe smoking.

Tobacco Chewing- This will lead to minor staining. A more important symptom will be noticed by the dentist in the form of a white patch or lesion where the tobacco rests. It is almost like a callous type tissue or a white film. If a child is chewing tobacco, they typically rest the pouch on one side. If a parent sees this symptom, this is a pretty clear indication of tobacco chewing.

Drug use-"There are few indicators of drug use revealed by the teeth in its early stages," says Dr. Williams, "because contact time on the teeth is pretty minimal." Often, children on drugs become neglectful of their appearance and hygiene. If a child previously had cavity free dental visits, and all of a sudden has a mouthful of cavities in addition to a disheveled appearance, this should be something parents delve into deeper with their child.

Coca Cola Swishing-Many parents try to monitor their children’s intake of carbonated beverages. Apparently, Coca-Cola swishing has become a trend among kids where they gulp the soda and swish it in their mouth. The high sugar content combined with the time the soda is remaining on the teeth can cause very bad tooth decay. Dr. Williams says that, "these days it is rare to see a child with a mouthful of cavities. If this does occur, parents should have a serious discussion with their children about their overall nutrition and sugar intake."

Teeth Grinding-Children usually grind their teeth more at night. If a child does not have a malocclusion night grinding could be a sign of stress that would be worth further investigation by parents.

While Dr. Williams does not pose these symptoms as absolute signs of medical problems or destructive health habits, he does feel that parents should pay more attention to what’s going in their child’s mouth as the teeth can yield information that good old-fashioned parental snooping may not.

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