Bulimia is an eating disorder disease that presents difficulties in its diagnosis, primarily because of the secretive nature of the person with the disease. The disease is most common in young females, and there is an average of a 4-year delay between the onset of the disease and the patient's self-referral for treatment.
Oral signs and symptoms of bulimia do exist and their presence can facilitate a diagnosis of bulimia during a routine dental examination. Six oral signs and symptoms of bulimia are 1) enamel erosion (all surfaces of the teeth-but especially the lingual surfaces) 2) salivary gland enlargement 3) xerostomia 4) oral mucosal erythema 5) tooth sensitivity and 6) cheilosis--are all associated with the disease.