Dental Hygienist Training in Eating Disorders

Eating disorders affect a person's health in many ways. One of the most prominent is causing dental problems associated with repeated food regurgitation. Properly trained dental hygienists can often recognize tell-tale signs that a patient might have a disorder such as bulimia. A hygienist doesn't have the training to treat a disorder, but she can refer the patient to a qualified professional.

Effects

• A dental hygienist may notice several physical signs caused by eating disorders. They often cause tooth decay, loss of enamel and gum disease, according to Gürze Books of Eating Disorders Today. The teeth are regularly exposed to stomach acid due to vomiting, which often makes them soft and rounded. If the patient has fillings, they may stick out above her gum line. These effects can lead to tooth loss if the frequent vomiting continues. Patients with eating disorders may also have enlarged saliva glands, redness on the roof of the mouth and in the throat, a dry mouth and dry, cracked lips.

Opportunity

• Dental hygienists often have more frequent contact with patients than dentists. A person who is on a proper dental care schedule will see the hygienist twice a year for cleanings, while she doesn't see the dentist unless she has a specific problem that needs treatment, like a cracked tooth, deep cavity or abscess. This means dental hygienists have more opportunities to recognize the signs of an eating disorder that are showing up in the patient's mouth. Beverly Whitfords, a former president of the American Dental Hygienist Association, states that many patients with eating disorders feel more comfortable talking to a hygienist about it rather than a dentist.

Training

• Most dental hygienists complete a college program that results in an associate degree, the Bureau of Labor Statistics explains. Some programs are more in-depth, leading to a bachelor's or master's degree. The American Dental Hygienists' Association states that hygienists receive training in recognizing eating disorders during their program. Some gain additional knowledge through continuing education classes which are often required to maintain a state license.

Treatment

• A dental hygienist cannot force a patient to get treatment for an eating disorder. However, he can teach her strategies to offset some of the damage. Training in how to do this is just as important as training in how to recognize the problem. Brooks explains that frequent brushing with fluoridated toothpaste, followed up with flossing, is especially important for anorexics and bulimics. The hygienist can emphasize this, as well as stressing daily use of a fluoridated mouthwash, which repair some of the ongoing damage.

Warning

• Even though dental hygienists are in a good position to recognize eating disorders, University of North Dakota researchers found that only 22 percent of them actually will bring up the subject with a patient. Dentists are even more reluctant, with only 12 percent discussing the topic. Dental professionals are also reluctant to do a referral to another professional such as a psychologist or medical doctor. Fewer than a third of hygienists and dentists stated they did so when they suspected an eating disorder. Effective training needs to address this reluctant and help dental hygienists become comfortable with bringing up a sensitive topic.