We all know that eating too many sweets is not good for our teeth, but what about ice? Many people mindlessly eat ice from their drinks, but should we avoid it altogether? While chewing ice extremely infrequently usually isn’t doing much damage to your teeth, more frequent or extended ice chewing (such as in pagophagia) can have a negative impact on the health of your teeth. In this article, dentists provide their perspective on whether chewing ice is bad for your teeth or not.
Why Chewing Ice Can Be Bad for Your Teeth
The reason why chewing is bad for your teeth is very similar to the reason why dentists tell patients not to bite hard candy. Biting or crunching on hard objects puts the entire pressure of all the muscles in your jaw on a single tooth at a time. This pressure can cause a few different things to occur depending on the oral health of your teeth.
Cracked Teeth and Fractures
The pressure of crunching on ice can cause small fractures and cracks in your teeth, especially in those who already grind their teeth. Even if these cracks and fractures are not immediately visible, they can lead to further complications in the future.
What makes fractures like these difficult is the fact that their symptoms are not immediate and may take multiple years to manifest – sometimes in the form of extreme sensitivity or pain. Because of this, more extensive procedures, such as a root canal or extraction, may be required.
Dislodging a Filling or Crown
Anytime a tooth is repaired with a filling, crown, or other restoration, it becomes weaker than the tooth’s original structure. This is because the place where the restoration meets your original tooth is often one of the weakest parts of your tooth. It can never be as strong as if there was no meeting point, to begin with. Additionally, these restorations reduce the supporting tooth structure, which makes them even more prone to damage.
When you crunch on ice, the entire force of your bite can be placed onto this restoration, which can cause it to become dislodged or further damaged. This can lead to intense pain, tooth sensitivity, and even outright damage to your filling or crown.
Breaking Dental Appliances in the Mouth
If you have any type of dental appliance, such as braces and lingual retainers (which are common after receiving braces), ice chewing can cause serious damage to it. These appliances are not made to withstand the pressure of crunching on a hard substance and, as such, can easily become damaged. If not caught immediately, damaged appliances could lead to unwanted movement of teeth in the mouth, which could make your orthodontic treatment take longer.
Eating Ice Could Indicate Other Health Effects
For some people, chewing ice is an indication of other underlying health issues. Some studies have shown that people with anemia or iron deficiency may automatically start craving the crunching sensation of ice and can’t seem to resist it. This is the condition known as pagophagia, which is an intense craving for things such as ice and cold beverages.
Pagophagia is a form of pico-craving, which is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder that causes individuals to crave or chew on non-food items.
It is important to note that just because you have an occasional craving for ice does not mean that you have pico-craving or pagophagia. But if your ice chewing starts to become more frequent, why not be safe than sorry and check with your doctor or dentist?
Should You Eat Ice?
So is chewing ice bad for your teeth? In short, yes. While eating an occasional cube of ice isn’t going to cause massive damage to your teeth, engaging in the habit of eating ice constantly can lead to a number of problems, such as fractured and cracked teeth, dislodged fillings and crowns, and damage to dental appliances.
Eating ice is similar to eating hard candy or any other hard food item. If you choose to eat it, do so in moderation and be sure to speak with your dentist if you have any concerns. At the end of the day, try not to do anything that puts unneeded pressure on your teeth, as you want them to last you a lifetime. This cuts down on the eventual cost of expensive repairs and keeps your teeth healthy and happy!
If you find yourself constantly craving ice or other non-food items, be sure to consult your doctor for more advice.
Disclaimer
The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be substituted for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this website constitutes the practice of medicine, law or any other regulated profession.
No two mouths are the same, and each oral situation is unique. As such, it isn’t possible to give comprehensive advice or diagnose oral conditions based on articles alone. The best way to ensure you’re getting the best dental care possible is to visit a dentist in person for an examination and consultation.
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