Learn why chewing ice is bad for your teeth.
Do you find yourself often chewing ice? Many people tend to chew the ice in their soda when it’s a very hot day, and they need to cool down, or when enjoying a shaved ice treat. While chewing ice now and then won’t lead to long-term effects, it only takes one hard bite to break a tooth. Continue reading to learn about the dangers of chewing ice, and what ice cravings could mean for your health.
Occasionally Chewing Ice
If you habitually chew on ice after finishing a cold drink, you’re putting your teeth at risk of injury. Tooth injuries spike in the summer months, as people tend to drink more cold drinks or chew on ice to stay cool. This is when dentist’s offices become crowded with patients, as chewing ice can lead to breaking teeth or painful gums. Rather than chewing on hard pieces of ice, dentists recommend letting ice sit in your mouth to melt to keep your teeth happy and healthy.
What Craving Ice Could Mean
Chewing ice at the bottom of a soda cup is one thing, but if you find yourself craving ice constantly, you may have an underlying health condition. For instance, compulsive ice eating is often associated with iron deficiency anemia. Anemia occurs when your blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells, which can result in feeling tired and short of breath. Researchers believe that chewing ice triggers an effect of sending more blood and oxygen to the brain, allowing people with anemia to feel more alert. Another reason may be Pagophagia, which is a mental disorder that involves compulsively eating ice or snow, or drinking ice water.
If you’ve been compulsively eating ice for more than a month, see your doctor and explain your symptoms. Allowing your doctor to run tests is the best way to know if you have a serious condition, which can save you from numerous health problems.
Dental Problems and More
Ice cravings can result in consuming more ice than any human is built to consume, and can have a serious effect on your body. Your teeth, for example, are not made for chewing ice constantly, and you enamel could be destroyed over time. Tooth enamel is the strongest part of the teeth and protects the inner layers on the teeth from decay and damage. When the enamel is destroyed, your teeth are open to becoming extremely sensitive and are at a higher risk of cavities.
Keep Your Smile Healthy with Affinity
Affinity Dental has six dentists and provides a variety of services from pediatric dentistry to orthodontics. Affinity Dental is capable of meeting all your needs. With 170 combined years of treating a variety of dental needs, Affinity is committed to providing quality dental care. To get your teeth back into good health and make your smile bright, call us at 410-719-7900 or contact us online. For other useful tips on dental care follow us on Facebook.
The post Why Chewing Ice Is Bad For Your Teeth appeared first on Affinity Dental.