Oro-dental manifestations of eating disorders: a systematic review

Abstract

Background

Eating disorders (EDs) pose a significant risk to health, especially when not diagnosed early. For several years EDs and oral health has been extensively studied, and now it is quite clear the existence of a correlation between specific oral manifestations and these disorders. While these oral signs could potentially aid early diagnosis of EDs, their identification and the eventual establishment of a correlation is currently heavily limited to the clinician’s experience. The present systematic review critically examines existing literature, offering an updated overview of oro-dental manifestations associated with EDs.

Method

MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and grey literature were searched, and relevant epidemiological comparative studies were screened using the Rayyan software. No limitations have been imposed on the research regarding oro-dental outcomes, encompassing all medically diagnosed EDs. The quality of the studies was valuated using AXIS appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies.

Result

Out of 3990 studies, 32 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the synthesis. The identified eating disorders include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and/or Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified, predominantly among female subjects, primarily originating from Europe. The evaluated oro-dental outcomes include dental erosion, caries, saliva assessment, hygiene-periodontal parameters, and mucosal tissue appearance. The association with erosion is confirmed while gingival recession, dentinal hypersensitivity, salivary flow thresholds and aspects relating to oral pathology are receiving increasing support from emerging evidence.

Discussion

This trend emphasizes the critical role of the complete intraoral examination to detect significant oro-dental signs that may indicate the onset of an ED.

Plain English summary

The article is a review of existing studies that explores the link between eating disorders and oral health issues. It found that people with eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, may experience dental problems such as tooth erosion, cavities, and altered saliva production. The review findings emphasize the importance of dental care providers recognizing these signs early and suggests better training for dental professionals. By doing so, they can help diagnose eating disorders sooner and recommend appropriate treatment. This approach aims to improve patients’ overall wellbeing by addressing both the oral health issues and the underlying eating disorders, making it essential for patients and medical teams to be aware of the interconnectedness between oral health and eating disorders.

Background

Feeding and eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by an enduring disturbance in eating habits, markedly impacting either an individual’s physical well-being and/or their psychosocial functioning, representing complex and multifaceted psychiatric conditions [1].

These disorders encompass various conditions, such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, binge eating disorder, pica, rumination disorder, other specified feeding or eating disorder and unspecified feeding or eating disorder. EDs lead to clinically significant compromises in physical health, psychological well-being, and social functioning, typically manifesting as alterations in the quantity, quality, or frequency of ingested food, often accompanied by concerns regarding body weight, shape, or size [1].

Individuals with EDs are at significant risk of morbidity and mortality, regardless of their weight status. This risk is linked to various factors such as malnutrition (leading to conditions such as cardiac diseases and deterioration in bone density), uncontrolled eating with overnutrition (leading to obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome), the use of compensatory mechanisms (which can cause electrolyte imbalances, resulting in a range of cardiovascular and neurological issues), and mood disturbances (potentially leading to suicidal tendencies) [2, 3].

The multifactorial etiology, which likely involves a combination of sociocultural, neurobiological, genetic, psychological, and interpersonal factors, makes it highly complex to determine causality. Moreover, the time lapse between onset (which can often be unclear) and the identification of these disorders spans several years. Individuals with eating disorders face physical complications, psychological comorbidities, reduced quality of life, relational challenges, emotional distress, social isolation, and economic disadvantage, often occurring alongside coexisting mood disorders and substance abuse [4, 5].

An early diagnosis and intervention are crucial to minimize the risk of serious medical and psychological complications, as well as to prevent the chronicization of the disorder. However, the difficulty in recognizing risk factors and the often limited presence of physical symptoms in the early stages of onset makes EDs challenging to detect within primary care settings [6]. Indeed, eating disorders, which frequently originate in adolescence with low rates of spontaneous remission, remain undiagnosed and undetected by healthcare professionals until adulthood [7]. In this context, the association between oral health and eating behaviors may hold significant importance, as it could enable early and reliable screening.

To the best of our knowledge, the latest two systematic reviews (2014 and 2015) concur in identifying specific oral manifestations that are more prevalent in patients with EDs [8, 9]. Hermont et al. found a significant association with dental erosion, while Kisely et al., in addition to dental erosion, observed higher DMFS (Decayed, Missing, Filled Surfaces) scores and reduced salivary flow. Both reviews underscored the need for further studies in this area, encompassing a broader range of oro-dental outcomes.

Currently, the diagnosis of dental lesions associated with eating disorders, crucial for potential early screening, depends on dentists’ clinical experience or the identification of particularly overt signs, primarily dental erosion. However, overt signs might indicate an ongoing disease that has been present for a while, suggesting a failure in achieving an early diagnosis. To date, the scientific literature lacks a comprehensive analysis or review that consolidates all potential clinical manifestations. These aspects form the rationale for the current systematic literature review, aimed at assessing the oro-dental manifestations of feeding and eating disorders.

Methods

This systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines [10].

Search strategy

A systematic electronic search (finalized in September 2023) was performed in three different databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to detect pertinent studies.

The following terms were searched: (“anorexia” OR “bulimia” OR “binge eating” OR “eating disorder*” OR “appetite disorder*” OR “binge-eating” OR “hyperphagia”) AND (“oral health” OR “oral hygiene” OR “tooth*” OR “dent*” OR “temporomandibular” OR “mouth” OR “oral status” OR “oral manifestation*” OR “oral cavity” OR “oral mucosa*” OR “saliva*”). Additional file details the search string used in each database.

Study selection

Only comparative studies examining the association between eating disorders and one or more oral related aspects were considered. All studies encompassing any oral or dental outcomes were included.

All eating disorders were taken into consideration.

Human studies involving participants with a physician-confirmed diagnosis of EDs were included, while studies of people with severe mental illnesses, primary alcohol or substance use disorders, intellectual disability, and other psychological disorders that could impact oral health were excluded.

Reports, case, reviews, meta-analysis, book chapters, expert opinions and conference abstracts were excluded, but there was no restriction regarding epidemiological study design. No limit on publication year was imposed, but only articles published in English were considered eligible.

A three-step procedure was applied (titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened in sequence) after excluding duplicates from the search results. The references of included studies were also checked to identify other potentially relevant studies. Two researchers conducted the search process autonomously (V.L. and M.E.); disagreements were solved by discussion and the mediation of a third reviewer (M.M.).

Data extraction

General article information (first authors, year of publication), study characteristics (study design, country of origin, sample size determination, site of recruitment for individuals with ED), and participant traits (age, gender, ED diagnosis and applied diagnostic criteria) were independently extracted by two reviewers (V.L. and M.E.). Moreover, information on the eating disorder and outcomes used in the respective studies and the main results were systematically synthesized and analysed.

Quality assessment

The quality assessment of the reviewed studies was conducted by two reviewers (V.L. and M.E.) using the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS) [11].

Results

Study selection

The systematic search returned 3990 references (1581 in Scopus, 1241 in Web of Science, 1168 in MEDLINE via PubMed). After removing duplicates, 2015 studies were eligible for title screening. Following the screening of titles and abstracts, 1939 articles were excluded. Full-text examination was then conducted on 76 articles, and finally 32 papers were included in this review. The references of included studies were also checked but it did not yield the identification of further studies that met our eligibility criteria. Additional Fig. 1 presents a flowchart depicting the screening and selection processes. The detailed PRISMA checklist can be found in Additional Materials Table 1.

Table 1 Participant characteristics in the studies included in the systematic review

Data synthesis

The main characteristics of the 32 included studies (2732 participants, 1309 with eating disorders and 1423 healthy controls) are summarized in Table 1. Most studies includedonly female participants (n = 19), with a few studies including both sexes (n = 9), while the gender of participants in 4 studies was not reported. No studies exclusively examining male subjects were found.

Regarding the region of origin, the studies were sourced predominantly from Europe (n = 23), followed by 4 studies from South America, 2 from Asia, and 1 each from North America, Oceania, and Africa.

All studies are cross-sectional, and they were published between 1989 and 2022. The cohort size ranged from n = 11 [12] to n = 117 [13].

Out of the 32 studies, 5 examined individuals with anorexia nervosa, 12 exclusively focused on bulimia nervosa patients, while 8 studies assessed both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Additionally, in 7 studies, the specific eating disorder being investigated was either not reported or included the EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) group. None of these studies addressed binge eating disorders.

Regarding the oral factors measured, the most common were erosion (14 studies, 1396 patients), caries (14 studies, 1500 patients), salivary function (19 studies, 1502 patients), pH (11 studies, 811 patients), periodontal and hygienic parameter (11 studies, 1190 patients) and oral mucosal tissues (7 studies, 701 patients). The rest of the oral-related factors included: hypersensitivity (2 studies), temporomandibular disorders (2 studies), parafunctional habits (1 study) and malocclusion (1 study). Nearly all the studies measured oral outcomes through specialist clinical examinations, while only a few outcomes were derived from questionnaires (such as on dry mouth/xerostomia, temporomandibular disorders, or parafunctional habits).

Quality of studies

An overview of the AXIS quality assessment of the included studies is displayed in additional file (Additional Table 2). The overall quality of studies was 11.25. The quality scores span a range from 7 to 17. Two studies had a quality score of 7 [14, 15], two scored 8 [16, 17], four scored 9 [18,19,20,21], seven scored 10 [22,23,24,25,26,27,28], two scored 11 [29, 30], three scored 12 [12, 31, 32], six scored 13 [33,34,35,36,37,38], four scored 14 [39,40,41,42], one scored 15 [43], and one scored 17 [13]. The majority of studies employed a suitable design to address their research inquiries and, with the exception of one, all studies had clear study aims. However, it is noteworthy that only one study accounted for non-responders in their analyses. The primary methodological deficiencies were predominantly associated with sample size limitations, unclear matching criteria, and study designs that were not clearly specified by the authors. Additionally, there was notable variability in the descriptions of patient characteristics across studies, incomplete reporting of results in some instances, and inconsistent definitions of outcome measures. Despite the range of quality scores, the overall quality of the included studies can be considered moderate. While they generally exhibit a suitable design for their research objectives, significant methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes, ambiguous matching criteria, and lack of clarity in study designs, somewhat undermine their robustness.

Table 2 Main results dental erosion

Association between eating disorder and oral outcomes

Dental erosion

Dental erosion was assessed across 14 studies, encompassing a total of 1,396 patients. Among these, 5 studies exclusively involved individuals with bulimia nervosa, 2 studies focused on anorexia nervosa, and 7 studies included a combination of various eating disorders. The primary findings of these studies are summarized in Table 2. Five studies employed methods previously established and documented in the literature, four utilized the BEWE (Basic Erosive Wear Examination) [44] method, four studies employed alternative methods, and one study did not report. All articles on this topic found an association between EDs and erosion.

Dental caries

Dental caries was evaluated in 14 studies, involving a total of 1,500 patients. Out of these, 4 studies exclusively enrolled participants with bulimia nervosa, 2 studies concentrated on anorexia nervosa, and 8 studies encompassed a mix of different eating disorders. The primary findings of these studies are summarized in Table 3. Most studies (n = 10) utilized either DMFT or DMFS (Decayed, Missing, Filled Tooth or Surfaces), while a few employed DMF (n = 2). In some studies (n = 7), the individual components ‘decayed,’ ‘missing,’ and ‘filled’ were also assessed separately, or pre-cavitation lesions were evaluated, or the areas were categorized into approximal and bucco-lingual.

Table 3 Main results dental caries

Only 5 studies identified a higher prevalence of caries among patients with eating disorders, while 5 did not find differences. Four studies have found only specific aspects related to higher caries prevalence within the ED group. Altshuler et al. 1990 reported a similar mean DMFS between patients with BN and control but observed a greater ‘decayed’ component in the BN group [22]. Similarly, Rytömaa et al. 1998 did not find a difference in DMFS and DS among BN patients but he found more pre-cavitation caries, approximal caries, and bucco-lingual caries in the BN group [14]. Conversely, Mascitti et al. 2019 found a higher mean DMFT in AN patients but no significant difference in the ‘decayed’ component [36]. Likewise, Ohrn et al. 1999 found no difference in ‘decayed’ data but observed significant disparities in DFS and DMFS. It is noteworthy that the difference in DS becomes apparent when considering the age range of 21–30 [41].

Salivary function

A total of 19 studies conducted assessments of salivary flow rate, collectively involving 1,502 patients (Table 4). Among these studies, 9 included patients with bulimia nervosa, 2 with anorexia nervosa, and 8 studies encompassed a group that comprised various eating disorders concurrently. Of these, 14 studies collected and evaluated samples of whole saliva, 4 studies specifically assessed saliva from the parotid gland, and one study conducted separate evaluations of both whole saliva and parotid saliva production. Thirtheen studies reported a lower flow rate in patients with ED, while six studies found no differences. Lesar et al. 2022 did not observe differences between ED and C groups but did find significant differences between AN and BN [30]. Dynesen et al. 2008 identified statistically significant differences in unstimulated flow rate but not in paraffin-stimulated flow rate [31]. Johansson et al. 2015 and Rytömaa et al. 1998 did not find differences in stimulated and unstimulated flow rates but observed distinctions in terms of the proportions of patients with low unstimulated flow rates (< 0.1 and < 0.2 ml/min, respectively, in their studies) [14, 45].

Table 4 Main results salivary function

pH value

Eleven studies assessed the pH value (811 patients). Six evaluated BN patients, 1 AN, and 4 multiple EDs. Seven studies found a lower pH in patients with ED (1 AN, 3 BN, 3 MIX), 3 studies found no differences (2 BN, 1 MIX), while one study on BN patients found no differences in the unstimulated condition but reported a higher pH in stimulated saliva among BN patients who presented with dental erosion (Table 4).

Periodontal & hygienic parameter

Out of the studies that assessed periodontal and hygiene parameters, a total of 11 studies were included in this analysis (Table 5). Among these, two studies focused specifically on patients with AN, another two on individuals with BN, and the remaining seven encompassed groups with multiple diagnoses of EDs. In total, these studies involved 1,190 patients. A variety of heterogeneous clinical indices were employed for assessment in these studies. Six studies found comparable or lower probing depths between the ED group and the control group, and none of the studies reported a higher prevalence of periodontitis or increased probing depths in the ED group. The diagnostic criteria used in Lourenço et al.‘s study, which identified patients with gingival recession or probing depth greater than 3 mm as cases of periodontitis, are no longer consistent with the current classification and may lead to incorrect diagnoses [32]. Consequently, those findings related to periodontitis were excluded from the analysis.

Table 5 Main results periodontal & hygienic parameter

Four studies reported higher levels of gingival bleeding on probing in individuals with ED while four studies found similar levels, and two studies observed lower levels in the ED group. Regarding plaque indices, three studies identified a greater quantity of plaque in ED patients, two studies found no difference, and two studies reported less plaque.

Two studies assessed the prevalence of gingival recession, and both reported a higher occurrence in patients with ED. An internal comparison within the ED group conducted by Touyz et al. 1993 revealed that anorexic patients had more sites with recession compared to bulimic individuals and the control group [21].

Oral mucosal tissues

Table 6 displays the seven included studies for a total of 701 patients (1 study on patients with AN and 6 studies with multiple ED diagnoses). The majority of studies have reported a notable frequency of soft tissue pathologies in patients with ED. Garrido-Martínez et al. 2019 found a soft tissue affectation prevalence of 98% and 43.5% in ED and control groups, respectively, while Panico et al. 2018 reported 94% and 18.5% [16, 43]. The most common oral pathologies include angular cheilitis/exfoliative cheilitis, labial erythema, and burning tongue/burning mouth. In populations of similar age, the study by Johansson et al. in 2012 identified cases of parotid gland enlargement in the ED group (1 out of 4 patient with AN, 4/8 BN, 12/32 EDNOS vs. 0/54 in the control group), while Panico et al. 2018 did not find any [16, 33].

Table 6 Main results oral mucosal tissues

Other

Other oro-dental outcomes assessed in a smaller number of studies included hypersensitivity (n = 2), temporomandibular disorders (n = 2), parafunctional habits (n = 1), and malocclusion (n = 1). Both studies on hypersensitivity reported a higher prevalence among individuals with EDs, whether self-reported or induced by air or explorer stimuli (Table 7). Similarly, malocclusion and various aspects related to temporomandibular disorders appeared to be more prevalent in individuals with ED, who also seemed to report a higher occurrence of muscle disorders, facial pain, earache, headache, and burning sensations in the mouth.

Table 7 Main results “other” oro-dental outcomes

Discussion

Our systematic review highlights the need for more validated tools in the dental field for the effective management of ED-related oral conditions. It points out the prevalent dental erosion in patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and EDNOS, and indicates a possible association between anorexia nervosa and higher tooth decay rates. The study underscores the importance of enhancing dental education regarding EDs, calls for more research into these correlations, and stresses the necessity for sensitive patient communication and holistic care approaches.

Infact, despite being formally trained in eating disorders, surveys among dentists and dental hygienists reveal a prevailing lack of familiarity in managing patients with EDs, along with difficulty in communicating suspicions about the disorder to patients or relatives [45]. This inadequacy might impact the limited referrals for medical treatment [46].

A recent scoping review highlighted the continued importance of ongoing research and updates in dental education regarding EDs [47]. The review found no recent evidence on this topic and reported that oral health practitioners generally lack sufficient knowledge of eating disorders and have limited clinical experience in this area. It emphasized that knowledge of oral signs is a critical factor that increases the likelihood of evaluation, referral, and case management.

Equally vital is the dissemination of information to medical practitioners regarding oro-dental manifestations, as currently, patients receiving treatment for EDs often fail to receive appropriate oral health care [48].

It is noteworthy that despite binge eating disorder (BED) being the most prevalent eating disorder [49], none of the studies included in the systematic review seemed to specifically address this issue. This could be due to BED being recognized as a distinct ED relatively recently, so there may be deficiencies in awareness and research on this specific topic. It is also important to consider the impact of weight stigma, which affects the physical and mental health of patients with obesity. This stigma could potentially serve as a barrier for healthcare professionals in recognizing and diagnosing obesity-related conditions. Additionally, patients may face challenges in explaining their difficulties due to weight-related stigma, further complicating their access to appropriate care and support [50].

The synthesis of extensive data from a wide spectrum of studies, including a considerable time span and the incorporation of newly eligible articles, characterizes this systematic review. Additionally, its identification of underexplored areas hints at significant opportunities for future research in this domain.

Erosion is a significant manifestation that has transversally involved patients with AN, BN and EDNOS. In all included studies, dental erosion consistently emerged as the predominant feature of patients with EDs, differing from the control group in terms of patient-level prevalence, tooth-level prevalence, extent, severity and location. Several studies established a direct relationship between vomiting episodes and/or purging behaviors and the occurrence of dental erosion [22, 32, 35, 43]. Alongside vomiting and compensatory behaviors, some harmful habits typical of individuals with EDs, such as frequent consumption of carbonated beverages and aggressive tooth brushing immediately after vomiting, might contribute to the onset and progression of dental hard tissue loss. Overall, it is plausible that various wear mechanisms interact, with the most significant interaction arising from the combination of mechanical abrasion and chemical erosion [51].

The requisite factors for the development of carious pathology are different. Tooth decay is an infectious disease that affects the calcified tissue of the tooth and causes the dissolution of the organic component and the demineralization of the inorganic portion. It is caused by the deposition of bacterial biofilm on the surface of the tooth and is favored by the frequent consumption of fermentable carbohydrates. Some oral microorganisms such as Streptococcus mutans metabolize fermentable carbohydrates and produce lactic acid, which lowers oral pH to a level where enamel and dentin minerals dissolve easily [52]. The marked heterogeneity present in the caries studies in this review it does not allow us to draw definitive conclusions; however, it should be noted that when analyzing the results based on EDs diagnosis (Table 8), the two studies involving individuals with AN both found a higher prevalence of the DMFT score [13, 36]. Furthermore, other studies with mixed diagnoses but with a notable presence of individuals with AN have shown a higher prevalence of caries [32, 38, 42]. Therefore we could hypothesize, albeit with absolute caution, that among the various eating disorders the only one that could be associated with the presence of tooth decay is anorexia nervosa.

Table 8 presents a summary of the results, specifically highlighting the number of studies that identified an association between ED and the oral outcome in relation to the number of studies investigating this aspect.

Table 8 A concise summary of the principal findings, indicating the proportion of studies demonstrating a connection between eating disorders and oral outcomes compared to the total number of studies exploring this aspect

This connection could be due to factors such as dietary preferences, infrequent meals leading to extended acidic exposure for teeth, reduced salivary flow, which is crucial for neutralizing oral acids, variations in oral hygiene practices due to psychological stress impacting oral care, and nutritional deficiencies weakening teeth. It’s important to note that these are speculative associations based on behaviors commonly observed in individuals with anorexia nervosa. Further research is necessary to establish a definitive link, as this systematic review serves to highlight potential areas for future investigation rather than providing conclusive evidence.

Over 65% of studies observed reduced saliva flow. Variations in collection times, methodologies, and often unverified parameters such as medications, hormonal status, vomiting, nutritional deficiencies, and hydration complicate comparisons. Nevertheless, 5 out of 6 studies investigating patient complaints of xerostomia/oral dryness revealed statistically significant differences, affirming the perception of reduced salivation among the ED patients. Additionally, studies assessing minimal saliva quantity (0.1–0.2 ml/min) found a significantly higher proportion of patients with reduced saliva in the EDs group.

The heterogeneity among studies in assessing pH poses challenges in synthesizing existing evidence. Even when differences were observed between EDs and control groups, the closely aligned mean scores limit their clinical utility and relevance for the specific objectives of this systematic review. A more comprehensive approach might involve continuous 24-hour pH monitoring, allowing for a thorough assessment of mean pH, pH fluctuations, duration of acidic pH exposure, number of pH peaks, and salivary buffer capacity efficiency, despite the complexity of such examinations.

Recent articles have brought to light new evidence regarding oral soft tissue characteristics. Correlations have been identified between EDs and various oral manifestations such as dry lips, angular cheilitis, erythema of the palate and lips, palatal ulcers, coated tongue, yellow-orange palate, and more. These manifestations could relate to vomiting episodes (resulting in dehydration) or the use of diuretics and laxatives, although other contributing factors may also be involved. Eating disorders are commonly linked to psychological disturbances, including obsessive-compulsive behaviors or self-injurious behaviors such as cutting, burning of the skin, reopening of wounds, and other forms of self-harm [53]. Morsicatio buccarum, repeated biting of the cheeks or lips, coupled with hemorrhagic lesions, palatal and pharyngeal lesions (erythema and ulcers), might be considered indicative of EDs [54]. Obsessive-compulsive behaviors may lead to intense and frequent tooth brushing, which, on one hand, could explain the variability in plaque presence and gingivitis and, on the other hand, contribute to dental erosion and the development of gingival recessions [55].

The less explored oro-dental aspects in literature, categorized here as “other aspects,” could provide a new avenue for research in this field. Particularly, examining potential links between EDs, temporomandibular disorders and malocclusion holds significant interest, providing valuable insights into the potential impact of EDs on the structure and function of the stomatognathic system.

In assessing oro-dental manifestations, it is important to consider that certain alterations may require different durations to manifest. It can be hypothesized that alterations affecting soft tissues might act as more immediate indicators, potentially displaying quicker changes over time, as they could reflect not only for local changes but also for signaling systemic dysfunctions or alterations and pathologies belonging to different domains. Conversely, manifestations involving hard tissues might require a longer onset period and, once present, exhibit a worsening nature. The role of the oral health practitioners towards EDs patients could also be expressed in a rational and evidence-based use of active compounds towards the tooth mineral component. This emerging dental aspect is still under-investigated for patients with EDs and represents a crucial point for future investigations. Patient-reported symptoms such as dysgeusia, xerostomia and oral burning sensation may behave differently, potentially stemming from psychogenic elements and expressing somatization of underlying disorders [56].

Encouraging longitudinal studies that analyze diverse oro-dental aspects over time in young patients with EDs would be beneficial. Such research could elucidate potential causal connections and comprehend the sequential/chronological manifestation of different outcomes. Timely addressing of these manifestations is pivotal for prognosis, affecting dietary habits, function, self-image, and consequently, self-esteem [57].

Given the dental team’s primary role in aiding patients with eating disorders and the critical importance of timely treatment by mental health and medical experts, sensitive communication post-identification of specific oral manifestations becomes strategic [58].

Limitations

This systematic review has inherent limitations. Overall, the studies’ quality was relatively modest, potentially affecting result precision due to methodological limitations. Wide ranges in age across studies, although mean ages were relatively similar, and patient recruitment from diverse populations, including hospitalized patients with potentially severe EDs, may both influence oro-dental manifestations. Furthermore, the role of pharmacotherapy as a variable, inconsistently verified and controlled, may impact oro-dental outcomes.

Predominantly female subjects from European regions were included in this study, which, while limiting generalizability to male individuals or non-EU populations, aligns with the prevalent statistics of eating disorders. This demographic focus is consistent with the higher incidence of eating disorders observed among females, as indicated by current prevalence data. However, it’s important to acknowledge this as a limitation in terms of the broader applicability of our findings to diverse populations and genders. While aligned with the review’s objective, heterogeneous study groups with the co-presence of different ED diagnoses may not have highlighted specific characteristics. Stratification of these groups in the statistical analyses of the respective studies could have allowed for a more specific evaluation of each ED’s characteristics. Variation in diagnostic criteria and DSM versions might have complicated identifying associations between different EDs and their oral implications, as did outcome measurement heterogeneity, hindering inter-study comparisons. It is conceivable that some studies [19, 24,25,26, 33, 34] may have been conducted on overlapping populations or on populations that are highly similar, although this was not explicitly reported. Lastly, nearly all studies lack examiner blinding, introducing potential bias due to knowledge of patient’s diagnosis.

Conclusion

This systematic review comprehensively assessed the relationship between feeding and eating disorders (EDs) and their impact on oro-dental health, meticulously identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing findings from the existing body of scientific research. Our analysis of the collated data has underscored that certain oro-dental manifestations show a notable and consistent correlation across various studies, suggesting a robust association with EDs. These include conditions such as dental erosion, reduced salivary flow, and specific oral mucosal changes. However, it has also become evident that other oro-dental outcomes, particularly those relating to dental caries, pH value variations, and periodontal health, present a more complex picture and thus warrant further in-depth investigation. The findings of this review highlight the multifaceted nature of the impact of EDs on oral health and underscore the need for continued research to fully understand these associations and inform more effective clinical practices.