Many people find chewing on ice to be highly tempting from a sensory perspective. Regretfully, it is detrimental to your oral health. Even while the damage may not be visible right away, ice can cause significant long-term harm to your teeth.
Can Your Teeth Get Damaged From Chewing on Ice?
This risk goes up, particularly if you have fillings or other dental restorations. Composite restorations may pop out or enable germs to infiltrate beneath them, resulting in cavities, if the bond is broken by chewing ice says Dr. Ravi Prakash, BDS, a senior Dentist from Haldwani, India.
When an opinion was asked from Dr. Ravi what's the greatest way to keep your teeth safe over time? His single line answer was "stay away of chewing ice".
What's Behind the Urge to Chew on Ice?
The Latin term for magpie, a bird with a ferocious appetite, is the source of the English word pica. [1] An unsatisfied drive or "devouring passion" to consume non-nutritive things is the loose definition of pica, which is characterized by a persistent desire to do so. [2]
Although ice pica is frequently linked to iron deficiencies, pagophagia is not always brought on by an iron issue. Although less frequent, pagophagia alone or in conjunction with other compulsive eating behaviors has been linked to mental illness, psychosis, autism spectrum disease, and dementia. [3]
Ice pica may be the diagnosis if your want to chew ice persists for more than a month and begins to interfere with your day-to-day activities. This disorder, which is frequently associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), is characterized by an obsession with eating ice or ice-cold liquids.
Does Ice chewing cause pain in the teeth?
When MedBound Times asked Dr. Sapna Shah, BDS, a senior Dentist, Saharanpur, India, she said, "Perhaps you are among the unfortunate individuals who are in pain after unintentionally biting down on ice. Although chewing on ice may cause temporary tooth damage, with minor cracks which later might cause tooth fracture. If discomfort is present, you're probably dealing with a more serious dental issue".
When this discomfort arises, notice it and be sure you contact your dentist immediately to schedule an appointment.
Stay away of chewing ice, tooth damage risk goes up particularly if you have fillings or other dental restorations.Dr. Ravi Prakash, Senior Dentist, Haldwani, India
Breaking the habit of chewing ice:
Allow It to Melt: Do not crunch the ice cube; instead, allow it to melt in your mouth if you want the coldness.
Avoid Temptation: In circumstances where you might be tempted to chew it, request drinks without ice.
Chill Your Drinks: For a cool substitute without the dental hazards, keep drinks in the refrigerator.
Smoothies Take All: For a tasty, gratifying substitute for chewing ice, choose smoothies. Pay attention to the amount of sugar.
Change Your Crunch: To get the same texture without putting your teeth at risk, choose crunchy foods like carrot sticks, cucumber slices, or chilled fruits and vegetables.
Maintaining your dental health can be achieved by making some easy changes.
Chewing on ice may cause temporary tooth damage, with minor cracks which later might cause tooth fracture and damage.Dr. Sapna Shah, Senior Dentist, Saharanpur, India
References:
1. Halsted JA. Geophagia in man: its nature and nutritional effects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 1968;21(12):1384–93. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/21.12.1384.
2. Barton JC, Baton JC, Bertoli LF. Pica associated with iron deficiency or depletion: clinical and laboratory correlates in 262 non-pregnant adult outpatients. BioMed Central Blood Disorders. 2010 Dec 22;10:9. doi: 10.1186/1471-2326-10-9.
3. Bhatia MS, Kaur N. Pagophagia – a common but rarely reported form of pica. Journal of Clinical Diagnosis and Research. 2014;8(1):95–6. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2014/6829.3959.
MSM