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YOU\u2019VE PROBABLY HEARD<\/b> before that it\u2019s bad to chew ice, but do you know why that is? Let\u2019s take a closer look at the damage ice can do to teeth and why many people want to chew ice in the first place.<\/p>\nPagophagia: Compulsive Ice Eating<\/h3>\n
Ice eating actually has a scientific name: pagophagia. It isn\u2019t just a bad habit; it can actually indicate an eating disorder called pica, which involves the compulsion to eat things that aren\u2019t food<\/strong> and have zero nutritional value, including hair, dirt, clay, and even ice. A nutritional deficiency can cause pica.<\/p>\n Studies in recent years suggest a connection between compulsively eating ice and iron deficiency anemia<\/strong>, a condition 20 percent of women (50 percent of pregnant women) and 3 percent of men experience.<\/p>\n Iron levels might seem like an odd thing to be linked to an ice eating habit, considering that there is no iron in ice, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Red blood cells need iron to carry oxygen throughout the body effectively. Someone who is iron deficient is therefore not getting as much oxygen to their brain. Eating ice stimulates blood flow to the head<\/strong> (and the brain), which gives a temporary boost to alertness and clarity of thought.<\/p>\n As strong as human teeth are and as hard as tooth enamel is, teeth are not meant to crunch and grind ice cubes<\/strong> (in any quantity or texture). The problem isn\u2019t merely that ice is hard but that it\u2019s so cold. When our teeth experience extreme temperature changes, the enamel expands and contracts, causing tiny cracks and weakening the overall structure \u2014 just like what happens to pavement in places where it snows.<\/p>\n Obviously weakened enamel can lead to other problems like tooth sensitivity and greater vulnerability to decay, and ice isn\u2019t good for gum tissue either. It\u2019s so cold that it can have a numbing effect while eating it, which might mean you don\u2019t notice an injury to the gum tissue. Ice can even chip or break teeth as well.<\/p>\n The most important step to take to break an ice eating habit is to discover the cause<\/strong>. For those who experience pagophagia as a symptom of iron deficiency, the ice cravings may go away after taking iron supplements, and the habit may stop on its own. For those who struggle with pica, there are a variety of interventions available, including medication and therapy.<\/p>\n If it\u2019s not specifically the ice you crave but the crunch, try replacing ice with chunks of apple or baby carrots<\/strong>. Conversely, if it\u2019s more about the ice than the crunch, try letting pieces of ice melt on your tongue like a piece of hard candy instead of chewing them.<\/p>\nIce Eating and Iron Deficiency Anemia<\/h3>\n
The Effects of Ice on Teeth and Gums<\/h3>\n
Tips for Breaking an Ice Eating Habit<\/h3>\n