Many people enjoy the habit of chewing on ice. Maybe you have a few cubes left at the bottom of the glass that you want to munch on or perhaps you love eating a big Italian ice in the summertime. While chewing on ice occasionally isn’t a bad thing, getting addicted to the habit of ice chewing can be. Learn why you should not get into this habit, which can lead to seriously negative consequences for your teeth.
Chewing ice can lead to serious dental health problems.
Is Chewing Ice Bad For Your Teeth?
What’s the big deal about chewing ice?
While occasionally eating an ice cube or two isn’t a bad thing, don’t let it become a habit. If you do, you run the risk of creating serious issues for your teeth and gums. This is because ice can easily chip or crack your teeth, weaken your tooth enamel, lead to a sore jaw, and create issues with dental procedures such as fillings and root canals. If you notice your child is beginning to fall into the habit of chewing ice, be sure to nip it in the bud before it becomes a much bigger problem.
How to kick the ice chewing habit once and for all
If you have a frequent craving to chew ice, the first course of action is to visit your primary care doctor to get checked for anemia. Doctors do not exactly understand the connection between anemia and this habit, but most patients report that once they began anemia treatment, their cravings to chew ice compulsively disappeared.
Some people choose to chew ice as an alternative way to handle nicotine cravings or to combat problems with dry mouth. As an alternative, consider trying to get into the habit of drinking cold juice or make popicles out of water with a little fruit juice mixed in. These are a much safer alternative to chewing ice but will still help to satisfy your craving.
If you enjoy chewing ice and don’t want to stop, consider switching to crushed ice rather than cubes. While still not ideal, this will minimize the chance of damage being caused to your teeth.
Your Olney dentist
Interested in learning more about how cosmetic dentistry can make your smile happier? Call Olney Dental at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online for an appointment. And don’t forget to visit Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube to connect with us on social media.