Going to the dentist isn't any fun, but it is one of those things that just has to be done. For years, I fought the process and didn't go for my regular cleanings and in the end, it sure didn't pay to do so. I ended up spending ten times as much time in the chair and a boat-load of money in dental repairs. If you don't like going to the dentist, you can make it easier on yourself. This blog will show you a few tips that can help you improve the experience and get through the treatment without as much discomfort.
going to the dentist with less anxiety
What Can You Do To Regain A Healthy Appearance While Recovering From Bulimia?
Jordan Arnold
If what began as an innocent attempt to lose a few pounds has transformed into a life-consuming cycle of binging and purging, you may be wondering what you can do to stop this roller coaster ride and regain a healthier physique. Unfortunately, even after you've replaced your binging and purging habits with healthier behaviors, your period of bulimia may have wreaked havoc on your appearance—particularly your skin, hair, and teeth. After working so hard to put this disease behind you, you may find that these visual reminders of your illness only make it more difficult to remain committed to recovery. What can you do to help regain your previously healthy appearance while recovering from bulimia? Read on to learn more about your options.
Investigate the extent of your dental damage—and your cosmetic options
While the calorie deficits of anorexia or compulsive exercising can wreak havoc on your heart, kidneys, and other organs, the binging and purging cycle of bulimia is harder on your teeth than any other type of eating disorder. This damage from sugary foods and stomach acids can often be compounded by neglect—those who fear discovery of their eating disorder or don't want to listen to a lecture on the bodily harm they're doing may avoid dental visits, even if dealing with tooth pain or other potentially problematic symptoms.
Although this acid erosion to your dental enamel may not be reversible, it is repairable—and often at a lower cost than you may have anticipated. By having porcelain veneers placed over your most damaged teeth, you'll be able to regain the appearance and strength of your natural teeth and roll back the clock to your pre-eating disorder days. These veneers are similar to dental crowns in that they provide a permanent cover for broken or eroded teeth; however, veneers are much smaller and lighter than crowns and require less removal of the underlying tooth.
In other cases, the damage done may be too severe to be solved with thin veneers, and may require the extraction of your tooth (or teeth) and the placing of a dental bridge. Like crowns, bridges are designed to perfectly mirror the color and shape of your natural teeth so as to be indistinguishable. Today's bridges are also durable enough that many need not be removed at night, helping minimize any disruption to your lifestyle. Click here for more information about your cosmetic dental options.
Increase your water consumption to improve your skin
When you binge and purge, you're not only ridding your body of the calories you just consumed, but also of fluids and electrolytes. Repeated binging and purging cycles can result in chronic dehydration, eventually harming your kidneys and heart as they struggle to perform the functions your body needs without adequate fuel. While the human body's capacity to thrive under difficult conditions can allow you to live with chronic dehydration for some time, this condition will take a major toll on your skin, nails, and hair as water is diverted to parts of your body with more immediate hydration needs.
Reversing the aging effects of chronic dehydration can be accomplished even if you've neglected your body's hydration needs for years, but requires some commitment. You'll want to increase both your intake of regular water and of electrolyte drinks or supplements that will help your body get the most use from the liquid you're consuming. To do this, you may want to set periodic alarms on your smartphone to remind you to drink a glass of water, or make yourself drink a full glass before and after each meal. Not only will you soon begin to notice the effect of your increased hydration on your skin tone and nail strength, you may find that your regular water consumption helps curb the impulses to binge and purge.
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