Tooth decay?

How often would someone have to vomit before it would damage their teeth?





About 7 years ago I went through a short spell of making myself sick after eating. It was only for a couple of months, and I would only do it once a week, maximum twice, but that would be unusual.





Although I hadn't seen a dentist for 10 years I thought I took reasonably good care of my teeth, and was shocked to find out recently that I now need nine fillings and all my wisdom teeth extracted due to decay. I was just wondering if my very short spell of vomiting could have caused all the cavities I have now? Or is it more likely that I just haven't taken good enough care of my teeth and eaten too much sugar over the past 10 years?

Tooth decay?
The vomiting would have contributed only if it were done more regularly. Not seeing a dentist and not having a proper cleaning at least once a year is the real reason behind all the tooth decay. You say you took good care of your teeth, however most people feel they do and then when you ask them they say things like well I brush everyday. Yes every day but once a day is not enough and if you don't floss that will affect it too. We all have bacteria on our mouth, through brushing and flossing we remove, most of, but not all, bacteria causing it to decline and not cause problems however if we don't brush the bacteria multiplies and causes severe tooth decay even tooth loss. As far as the wisdom teeth thing, don't worry most people lose their wisdom teeth to decay because of their location in the mouth. It is usually too far to reach with your toothbrush. Get your teeth fixed and than make sure you really take care of them.
Reply:The vommiting could have contributed, but more likely it is that you didn't take good enough care of your teeth and didn't see a dentist in 10 years. My sister was bulimic for a year and her teeth show signs, but she didn't get any decay.
Reply:Yes, unfortunately. Vomic contains a high level of acid which will rot through your soft tooth enamel in no time. Sugar will add to this though, so if you know you've eaten too much (and I'm sure you will know if you have!) then that's it.
Reply:I see this all the time. You can tell by lifting up your upper lip if there is a white (decalcified) line on the enamel of your upper teeth this is classic bulumeia damage. This is because most bulemics brush afterwards but the acid level stay s highest under the upper lip. If you have just run of the mill cavities between your teeth then its nor related. Don't worry to much It's more common than you think. You probably have just normal decay.
Reply:Vomiting can cause problems to teeth, usually erosion of the tooth enamel due to the acidity of vomit add this to not going to the dentist in ten years and you are looking at a lot of work. Once you have all of the work done please, please see your dentist twice or more a year for cleanings and check-ups. If you had been going reg. they could have either helped you understand proper home care and prevented much of the decay, or at least have been able to catch some of the decay before you progressed this far. In this day and age of processed food, soft drinks, starches, and carbohydrates we must take better care of our teeth then ever due to all of this junk we consume. People are very surprised when I tell them that tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, even harder then our bones. So when you think about all of the dental decay people get in the hardest substance in the body it really makes you understand how vulnerable enamel can be, in-spite of the fact that it is so hard. The best thing to do is make this whole process a learning experience and make sure that you seek dental care through-out the rest of your life, along with educating yourself about nutrition and the proper way to brush and floss.