Is there something you can put on your teeth to repair enamel on your teeth? Toothpaste? anything

[blackdragon]

I havent found a way yet. what i found out to help with enamal lost is brush my teeth after each purge. There is something out there a temporary filling.

[silver_queen]

I thought it was bad to brush teeth immediately afterwards because that damaged emanel further?

the dentist puts a type of "varnish" on mine. It lasts for three months. then I have to go in and have it done again.

I just made a dentist appt. I'm so scared. Will the dentist be able to tell i have bulimia. I haven't been to the dentist in 2 years and my purging has gone to several times a week if not everyday. Should I tell them? If i ask for the varnish will they know im bulimic???

[silver_queen]

They are supposed to be able to tell from enamel wear at the back of the mouth, and supposedly trained to be able to recognise the damage caused by purging: it's said to be quite distinctive, caused by acid and whatever, but whether dentists are in fact all that knowledgeable, I don't know.

[silver_queen]

Actually I was wrong and it's the damage caused by the wear at the back of the front teeth which is distinctive.

http://www.edauk.com/info/teeth.htm gives a bit of info about caring for your teeth after.

Maybe you should tell your dentist after all, or he might raise the point anyway: and he might put on the varnish stuff perhaps, which might help, idk.

yea they will be able to tell not only by your teeth but the scarring in your throat. besides whatever you use to help you purge leaving scars so does stomach acid. So when filling out the intake papers its easier to write it down and then write next to it "being taken care of". that way they don't ask alot of questions surrounding it.
The varnish is not used specifically for bulimia. its for anyone who is losing their tooth enamel be it from nature of eating to health problems. all you need to do is ask to schedule a cleaning with floride and varnish treatment.

[backandforth]

I wish you all the best w/ your dentist appt.- I know how scarry that can be... I just had to go through this as well, I hadn't been to a dentist for prolly 3 yrs (I know, bad) and things were fine but then I started noticing not only pain w/ hot/cold liquids but also dark spots on some teeth... so I dragged myself to a dentist... and now am left having to do fillings which are costing me so much $$$...... it really sucks. My dentist was confused as to why I had so much decay and asked whether my old dentist had noticed decay and told me about it... she says it needs to be fixed etc. but she never asked about an ed..... I was kind of expecting this question but I am so happy it didn't come up....I would have felt very uncomfortable espec. as I am currently not in treatment for my ed.... it is weird though, every time I go it almost feels like I am being punished for everything that I have done to my body.. like things are finally catching up w/ me...... and it feels so bad..... but I guess in a way this can be a wake up call. If you can be open w/ your dentist I'd do so just to make things easier and get the best treatment possible. (((hugs)))

the link to the website was really useful- thanks silver queen!

((((((((backandforth)))))))))

just an update. I went to the dentist and no one mentioned anything (Although the dentist stared at my xrays for some reason for the longest time). Anyways. Not even a cavity. I almost always rinse with fluoride after I purge..so maybe that helped.

[partlycloudy]

Sorry to say but you don't have a very good dentist. One of my good friends is a dental hygienist, and I worked in the dental office for almost 2 years.
Looking at tooth enamel is an indication of your general health. Degraded enamel (piited and scarred), and increased tooth sensitivity to hot and cold can be an indication of bulimia.
Hormonal flucuations caused by puberty, perimenopause and pregnancy increase the likelihood of gingivitis. This can lead to heart problems in the future (honest! Not an old wives' tale! Has something to do with the bacteria that causes gingivitis and that is has been linked to HD).

Getting your teeth treated with fluoride will help with future decay. taking care of your gums - flossing or, like me, waterpicking (don't like putting my hands in my mouth!!) - will guard against gingivitis. Also try using a Sensodyne - type toothpaste to help with any discomfort.
If you have your teeth whitened the sensitivity may increase. Fluoride helps to decrease it.

ClearSkies

I say don't sweat it. if he said you have no cavities and didn't mention any enamel loss then your purging hasn't been going on long enough to cause teeth problems which says to me now is the time to talk to a therapist and make plans on how to learn other coping skills now before you have to pay thousands of dollars to repair in the futur those beautiful teeth that you have. In your original post you asked how to repair the damage but didn't say if you had damage or how your question came about. Its ok to ask a question and not have the problem. So glad to hear you don't have the loss of enamel problem, there are so many other problems that come along with enamel loss such as bone loss, tooth roots start showing through the gums.. so many problems...So glad your disorder hasn't reached irrepairable damage. Talk to your therapist and hopefully those good teeth will last a lifetime.Wish mine did. Just about every tooth I have is a stump of real tooth with resin to form teeth and varnsh to keep whats left healthy... Congrats to the max on the great dental report. Good luck and take care.

[partlycloudy]

With all respect, you might not have to have had all that dental work if your dentist and hygienist had been more thorough in their examinations.
The longer you wait, the more it costs. That is the rule (and the way to make lots of money) in dentistry.

I had all that dental work because I stayed away from dentists for about 20 years. They could not be more thourough if I wasn't seeing them to begin with. I saw a dientist when I was 18 and then not until after my son was born when I was 30. and then skipped another 2 years. I was the one purging and I was the one not seeing the dentist for care.

[Lexicon78]

I saw this ad on tv for this new toothpaste that's supposed to help your enamel somehow...just a thought...you might wanna try to look into it.

Thanks, I saw it too and asked my dentist. he said no toothpaste can repair enamel and any toothpaste cleans the teeth for its all made of the same stuff - chalk, flavoring, floride, water, baking soda so a .99 cent tooth paste is and does the same job as a tube for $3.00 to $5..00. What makes the difference is the amount of brushing and how the brushing is done and in some cases if the person rinses with a plaque fighter before brushing. and flossing before and after brushing and sometimes floride rinses. A friend and I put that idea to a test. I got a .99 cent tooth paste and she got the expensive brand. we took the kids to the dentist for a cleaning and check up and then started our tubes of tooth paste. when the tooth paste was gone off to the dentist again. there was no difference in their appointments. So now I don't worry about which tooth paste is the best. I pick up the cheep one and make sure I brush twice a day flossing and a plaque rinse first to loosen anything stuck between then brush and floss after for anthing that had been missed. And have had no new cavities or problems just repair work from past neglect and purging.

((((((((((((myself)))))))))))

Thanks for the hug estersvurtue.

[backandforth]

well, happy to hear that your teeth seem to be okay esthervirtue! you are so "lucky" in that aspect, as I said b/f and others have said so as well, most people w/ bulimia (85% or so) will have some kind of tooth decay.... do remember, that if enamel is being hurt it also counts as dental problems, not just actual cavities etc. My dentist suggeste using a soft bristle brush and regular tooth paste, not the whitening kind, to protect enamel erosion... I guess the part about how acid erodes enamel didn't cross her mind or it did but she didn't know what to say... she seems very competent though. she pretty much saved one of my teeth that looked like it had a 4 surface decay but apparently was even worse inside... imagine. well, long story short, it's $, it's pain, it's emotional torture to have to sit in a dentist's chair knowing WHY things are the way they are....sigh. oh yeah, flossing helps and also a mouth wash. okay, hope this helped some.... do go for regular check ups too if you can at all, I should have never waited as long as I did but I was scared.....

<font color="#000088">good luck </font>