Ice
slivers, especially on smoldering, hot summer days, are refreshing to chew on.
However, while chomping on ice is revitalizing, it practically is like swinging
a wrecking ball to your teeth as well as your overall health.
Crunching
ice may harm your teeth
Chewing
on ice may look as innocent as drinking water, but in reality, it can wreak
havoc to your precious pearly whites.
Your teeth are made up of dentin and
enamel which are put to a great amount of risk to wearing down when you chew on
ice worn down enamel can then cause chips and cracks. If this happens, the
dentin gets exposed and your teeth weaken, making them prone to sensitivity.
You
may suffer in gum injuries
Ice
can sometimes be sharp; hence, can puncture your gums when you chew on them.
It’s
a dangerous cycle
There
are many reasons why people chew ice. Some individuals just prefer having something
to chew on, while others might have health problems linked to this habit.
Whatever the reason may be, chewing on ice is not a healthy habit to take on.
Ice chewing creates a hot and cold cycle in your mouth which can cause cracks
in the tooth enamel. This does not only weaken your teeth, it also poses a
serious threat to fillings that you might have.
Ice
chewing could be the sign of something worse
The
desire to chop on ice may be a symptom of iron deficiency anemia, a serious
blood disorder. The urge to constantly chew on ice may also be linked to other
physical or emotional conditions like stress, nutritional deficiencies, and
obsessive-compulsive disorder. Furthermore, it could be a sign of the condition
known as pica, where a person has the urge to eat or chew on substances with no
nutritional value like rocks, clay, or paper.
So
if you’re one of those individuals who can’t get enough of ice-chewing, you
should consider seeing a doctor right away.
Kick
the habit
Instead
of crushing chunks of ice with your teeth, let it melt in your mouth. This way,
you are getting refreshed and saving your teeth from a fairly detrimental
practice at the same time.
If
you are just craving to crunch on some, switch to chewing a sugar-free gum. In
addition, Dentists recommend chewing on nutrient-filled and tooth-friendly
snacks like apple chunks and baby carrots.
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