Body Positivity: How hard is it?
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 18th February 2022
In recent years, body positivity has become a focus in society as social media has caused people to worry about their body image.i People have been urged to love themselves with public figures such as Tess Holliday pioneering #EffYourBeautyStandards, as well as celebrities pushing against unrealistic images of them being produced. Kate Winslet refused to allow her stretchmarks to be airbrushed away in Little Children and it has become the norm for people in the public eye to speak more openly about their bodies in a positive way. But are we really more body positive and how does it affect our oral health?
Self-Image
Body image relates to how people think and feel about their own body. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to negative body image due to social media pressure. In fact, a study involving teenagers and adults in the UK revealed that 73% described feelings of shame, lowness and disgust in relation to their body image.[i] Body dissatisfaction is considered to be the most important global measure of stress relating to the body and can be a predictor of a mental health issue.[ii] Studies have found that generally women experience greater dissatisfaction with their bodies compared to males.i However, other studies have found that 90% of a male sample described themselves as being dissatisfied with their appearance.i It has also been revealed that importance of appearance is greater in women than in men and compared to men women will invest more time to achieve their ideal aesthetic.ii
Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is defined as a type of mental health condition characterised by severe disturbances in eating behaviours and distressing thoughts and emotions.[iii] Some of the most commonly known eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED), and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) which involves a variety of symptoms across other disorders. For instance, a patient may binge and purge like someone with bulimia but they can also restrict their food intake and have symptoms of BED.[iv]
Men and women of all ages can be affected by an eating disorder. Beat Eating Disorders, revealed that 2.37% of 11-24-year olds suffer from EDNOS and 20% of women over the age of 35 develop the chronic condition of anorexia nervosa. Approximately 0.33% of males aged 11-24 have EDNOS and 0.025% of males over 35 suffer with anorexia.[v] This indicates that anyone can be affected by an eating disorder and implies that health professionals should therefore be vigilant about this with any patient they come across.
How Eating Disorders Can Affect a Patient’s Oral Health
Changes in the mouth can be the first physical signs of an eating disorder. Harmful habits and lack of nutrition can have severe consequences to one’s dental health.[vi] Without proper nutrition, gums can start to bleed more easily and the lack of nutrition (calcium, iron and B vitamins), which promote healthy gingiva, also leads to tooth decay. Persistent vomiting can lead to damage of tooth enamel due to the acidity levels increasing in the mouth and scratches and bruising can also develop in the mouth. Studies show that the UK has the highest rate of eating disorders in Europe and 1 in 100 British women has a diagnosed eating disorder,[vii] which suggests that dental patients in the UK will have the highest rate of oral symptoms.
Dentists can treat patients whose oral health has declined due to an eating disorder. Some suggestions include encouraging frequent and meticulous oral health care, regular examination, rinsing the mouth after purging (using water and a sugar-free mouthwash), keeping the mouth moisturised by drinking or rinsing water, and dentists can also prescribe fluoride rinses and re-mineralising agents if necessary.[viii] A patient should also feel that the dental practice is a safe space for them to speak openly without judgement. The products one recommends to a patient will also have an effect on their overall oral health. You can support your patients in maintaining good oral health and appearance with the Hydrosonic Pro toothbrush from Curaprox. The toothbrush allows patients to brush their teeth like a pro every time while taking care of the gums, effortlessly removing plague, and hitting all the hard-to-reach areas with CuraCurve® technology.
In summary, eating disorders and negative body image are a prevalent battle for people across the UK and are therefore a concern for healthcare professionals. Dentists, however, can take action to support their patient’s oral health while they battle an eating disorder.
For more information, please visit: https://curaprox.co.uk/info/sonic-toothbrushes/hydrosonic-pro
[i] Mental Health Foundation. “Body Image Report – Executive Summary.” Mental Health Foundation, 15 May 2019, www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/body-image-report/exec-summary. Accessed 15 Oct. 2021.
[ii] Quittkat, Hannah L., et al. “Body Dissatisfaction, Importance of Appearance, and Body Appreciation in Men and Women over the Lifespan.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 10, 17 Dec. 2019, 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00864. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.
[iii] Parekh, Ranna. “What Are Eating Disorders?” Psychiatry.org, American Psychiatric Association, 2017, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders. Accessed 15 Oct. 2021.
[iv] “What Is an Eating Disorder?” What Is an Eating Disorder?, www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/about-mental-illness/learn-more-about-conditions/eating-disorders/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-JTK0oDM8wIViZntCh13kQGSEAAYASAAEgIwiPD_BwE. Accessed 15 Oct. 2021.
[v] Beat Eating Disorders. “How Many People Have an Eating Disorder in the UK?” Beat, www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/get-information-and-support/about-eating-disorders/how-many-people-eating-disorder-uk/. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.
[vi] Dental Complications of Eating Disorders. “Dental Complications of Eating Disorders.” National Eating Disorders Association, 22 Feb. 2018, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/dental-complications-eating-disorders. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.
[vii] Douglas, Linda. “Caring for Dental Patients with Eating Disorders.” BDJ Team, vol. 1, no. 1, 30 Jan. 2015, 10.1038/bdjteam.2015.9.
[viii] Dental Complications of Eating Disorders. “Dental Complications of Eating Disorders.” National Eating Disorders Association, 22 Feb. 2018, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/dental-complications-eating-disorders. Accessed 14 Oct. 2021.
