Ice Cravings – A Sign of Something Worse?

Know someone who asks for extra ice just so they can chew on it? It’s interesting because, we keep hearing that chewing ice is not healthy for your teeth. So, is it best to stop ice chewing? Absolutely, and there are more reasons than most people are aware of. Dr. Bryden McCormick wants all Fuquay-Varina residents to know why chewing ice is a bad habit, so please read on for the facts!

Why should I stop chewing ice?

Ice is hard. So hard, in fact, that pitting it against your teeth regularly will most certainly result in damage to your enamel. If you have pagophagia (the fancy name for ice cravings), it’s likely that Dr. McCormick will need to perform enamel restoration treatments, which are pricey and can be quite uncomfortable.

However, that is not the most pressing reason to be aware of for an ice chewing habit. Recent research indicates that pagophagia may actually be a sign of anemia (a lack of iron in the blood), leading to serious health complications if left untreated. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why the link exists, but they suspect it may be due to the oral inflammation caused by anemia. Such inflammation could conceivably spark an urge to seek relief in the form of ice.

Is ice chewing really a ‘thing’?

It definitely is. Hardcore ice enthusiasts keep ice by their side all day long, and may even put away multiple pounds of the stuff each day. If you still think this is doubtful, check it out online and you will find that there is an entire community of ice lovers and ice-chewing websites.

Why am I having ice cravings?

With a simple blood test, your doctor can tell you if you are an anemic ice chewer seeking the soothing cold of a good ice cube. And if you are, don’t panic! Anemia is easily treatable with daily iron supplements.

Once you have that taken care of, come see Dr. Bryden McCormick for a check-up and he’ll take care of any enamel damage that your ice chewing may have caused. If you have questions, call Fuquay Family Dentistry at (919) 887-5030 anytime! And remember to order that drink WITHOUT ice next time!

Sources

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/health/22real.html?_r=1&ref=health