Dentists Often First to Spot Eating Disorders i...( Delta Dental of Illinois warns agains...),Health

Delta Dental of Illinois warns against serious oral health complications

during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

LISLE, Ill., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Dental of Illinois wants to call attention to the dangers surrounding eating disorders and the need for early intervention and treatment during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week -- Feb. 22 - 28. Eating disorders are a serious healthcare concern and can cause a variety of oral health complications.

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As many as 35 million men, women and children suffer from eating disorders in the United States. Dentists are becoming the first line of defense when it comes to spotting eating disorders in patients, according to the Academy of General Dentistry.

        An eating disorder is a complex compulsion to eat in a way which
        disturbs physical, mental, and psychological health. The three most
        common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and
        binge eating disorder.  The eating may be excessive (compulsive over
        eating); restrictive; or may include normal eating punctuated with
        episodes of purging(1) (such as self-induced vomiting, use of
        laxatives, fasting, diuretics or diet pills(2)).  The eating may
        include cycles of binging and purging; or may encompass the ingesting
        of non-foods(1) (such as dirt, clay or chalk).(3)

"A parent may not recognize a child is anorexic or bulimic, however, through a routine dental checkup, a dentist may spot the oral signs of the disease," said Dr. Katina Morelli, D.D.S., dental director for Delta Dental of Illinois. "Eating
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