When you think about eating disorders and their impact on health, the first problems that come to mind might be brittle bones, weak muscles, and perhaps heart conditions. But one eating disorder in particular can also have devastating effects on oral health. Bulimia, a condition in which patients binge on large amounts of food before purging—often by vomiting—affects about 1.5% of women and 0.5% of men over their lifetimes. It’s most common in teens, so as the parent of a teenager, it’s important that you’re informed about this condition and how it can affect your child’s dental health for the rest of his or her life.

If you’re missing one or more teeth, your dentist may recommend a dental implant. An implant is a metal post that replaces your missing tooth’s root. It attaches to your jaw, providing a foundation for a replacement tooth.

Caring for your implant is similar to caring for your natural teeth, but there are some important differences.

When you think about an ideal smile, you probably primarily picture bright, white teeth. But in order for teeth to stay healthy, individuals must also have strong gum tissue. This tissue provides the support necessary to keep teeth aligned and protected from decay.

Unfortunately, gum disease is a common ailment that can affect patients of almost any age. Gum disease is most likely to appear in adult patients, rather than children or teens. In fact, almost 70 percent of adults have some form of gum disease.

In this article, we explain the basics of gum disease, including how it’s classified, diagnosed, and treated.

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