Many people chew ice out of habit, often without realizing the potential damage it can cause to their teeth. While it may seem harmless, ice chewing can lead to serious dental issues, including fractures, enamel erosion, and damage to dental work such as fillings and crowns.
Why Do People Chew Ice?
Chewing ice can be a subconscious response to stress or anxiety. The cool sensation may feel soothing, and the crunch can be satisfying. According to experts, ice chewing can increase blood flow to the brain and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, providing a temporary calming effect. However, the risks far outweigh the benefits.
The Dangers of Chewing Ice
At Flawless Dental Care, we’ve seen firsthand the dental issues that chronic ice chewing can cause. Here are some of the most significant risks:
1. Damage to Fillings, Crowns, and Restorations
Ice is extremely hard, and biting down on it can chip or break dental restorations. Fillings, crowns, and veneers are particularly vulnerable, especially if the teeth they’re bonded to already have minor cracks or weaknesses.
2. Enamel Erosion
Your enamel is the protective outer layer of your teeth, but it’s not indestructible. Constant exposure to ice can cause tiny fractures that weaken your enamel over time, making your teeth more susceptible to decay and sensitivity.
3. Increased Risk of Tooth Fractures
It doesn’t take much force to fracture a tooth if it already has small cracks. In some cases, a severely fractured tooth may not be restorable and could require extraction.
4. Problems for Braces and Orthodontic Work
If you have braces, chewing ice can break or loosen the brackets and wires, disrupting your treatment and prolonging your time in orthodontic care.
5. Jaw Pain and Muscle Strain
Chewing ice requires significant jaw muscle force, which can lead to discomfort and even contribute to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Is Ice Chewing a Sign of an Underlying Condition?
Surprisingly, compulsive ice chewing (a condition called pagophagia) may be linked to iron deficiency anemia. If you find yourself constantly craving ice, it might be worth discussing with your doctor and having your iron levels checked.
How to Break the Ice-Chewing Habit
If you regularly chew ice, consider these strategies to protect your teeth:
Make It Melt. Instead of crunching your way through a glass of frosty cubes, try letting them melt in your mouth slowly. You’ll still get that satisfying refreshment from the ice, and it will last longer than just chewing the entire glass.
Skip the temptation. When you’re at a restaurant, try skipping ice in beverages altogether, and remove the temptation to chew. By skipping the ice in restaurants, you could also be avoiding a certain amount of filth. Ice makers are notoriously tricky to clean and can be havens for bacteria.
Switch to Slush. You can also try replacing your regular cubes with softer types of ice. Go for shaved ice, slushies, or even “soft” ice, also known as nugget ice, which is slushier than the regular stuff.
Look for an underlying cause. If you find ice crunching impossible to resist, tell your dentist. Craving and chewing ice can be related to iron deficiency, and an iron supplement could help.
Crunch Switch. The cooling sensation of chewing on ice is great, but so is the crunching feeling. When you feel the need to crunch away, go for carrot sticks, cucumber slices, or apple slices instead — anything nice and crisp. There’s an additional benefit to crunching up crisp fruits and vegetables, too. All that chewing of fibrous material will stimulate saliva production, which acts as a natural mouthwash — and the particles of fiber will help scrub your teeth.
Concerned About Ice-Chewing Damage?
Visit Flawless Dental Care
If you suspect that chewing ice has damaged your teeth, fillings, or crowns, don’t wait for the problem to worsen. Dr. Shaloo Gupta and the team at Flawless Dental Care are here to help. A dental exam and X-rays can determine if any issues need to be addressed before they become serious.
Protect your smile and break the ice-chewing habit today! Schedule an appointment with us to ensure your teeth stay strong and healthy.
Flawless Dental Care – Where Your Smile Shines Brightest!
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