My 14-year-old niece has many issues with food. Could it be a serious eating disroder?

Q. My 14-year-old niece has many issues with food. Her parents think she’s just being fussy, but the family dentist suspects a serious eating disorder. Could he be right?

A. Dentists are often the first to spot health problems that go well beyond teeth, and an eating disorder is one of them. Teenage girls especially, because of a distorted body image fueled by society’s preoccupation with slimness, may get into the habit of bingeing and purging. This involves episodes of overindulging in food, followed by tactics to eliminate it, such as the use of laxatives. The particular practice that causes problems in the mouth is self-induced vomiting. This brings up stomach acids that can erode the enamel of the upper front teeth, causing sensitivity and chipping. Other worrisome signs that a dentist may notice include bleeding gums, mouth sores, bad breath, dry mouth, cracked lips, or a tender mouth and throat. When a dentist mentions his or her suspicions that a youngster may have an eating disorder, it would be smart to pay attention: If the problem is discovered early, the damage it has caused may still be reversible. Sometimes dentists can even recommend a therapist for specialized help.