How to Avoid Bulimia Side Effects - a Former Bulimic's Advice

Let me say first of all that I do not recommend bulimia to anyone. Bulimia will not make you lose weight. You will stay the same weight because your body will think that it is starving. This will make your metabolism slow down drastically. I have struggled with bulimia in the past and if you are bulimic, here is how to avoid bulimia side effects.

One of the worst side effects of bulimia is discolored teeth and bad breath. The stomach acid in the vomit you expel out of your mouth eats away at your teeth enamel. You will eventually have gray to yellow teeth from tooth erosion. Bad breath occurs simply because vomit is full of bacteria that remains on your tongue, teeth , and inside of your mouth.

There is nothing you can do to prevent the gradual decay of your teeth because your stomach acid is going to come into contact with your teeth whenever you vomit. The best way to slow down the erosion of your tooth enamel is to brush your teeth rigorously with a whitening toothpaste immediately after vomiting. Brushing your teeth every time you throw up your food will also keep bad breath at bay. Keep an extra toothbrush and a travel size whitening toothpaste inside your purse or pocket at all times. Bulimia doesn't always happen in the privacy of your own bathroom.

Another bulimia side effect is swollen cheeks and skin along the jaw line. Forcing yourself to throw up several times a day bursts tiny blood vessels in your face. This leads to a chubby looking face. Many bulimics throw up as soon as they eat a meal. After you eat your food, it takes three hours for your meal to go from your stomach into your intestines. Your intestines absorb all the calories. As long as your food is inside of your stomach you will not be getting any calories, fat, or sugar from it. To keep facial puffiness to a minimum, cut back on the number of times you vomit throughout the day. Keep in mind that you have three hours to vomit after a meal. Throwing up every hour is unnecessary.