Did you know that constantly craving and chewing ice (and other non-nutritional substances like clay, paper, or soil) might mean that you have an iron deficiency? It could also be an indicator of an obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress, or some other developmental disorder.
That’s not the only issue with chewing ice, though. Dentists are constantly berating their patients for chewing on ice since it can be terrible for their teeth.
Keep reading to find out exactly why chewing ice is bad for teeth so you can stop yourself or your children from doing this ASAP.
Damage to Tooth Enamel
Your tooth enamel is one of the strongest substances in your body, and that’s quite apparent when you munch and chew through those ribs. But it’s not invincible.
If you are constantly (absentmindedly in most cases) chewing on ice, then it could result in interminable damage to your tooth enamel. This can leave your teeth more vulnerable to acid attacks and tooth decay according to dentist near me naperville.
Cracked or Chip Teeth
Again, your teeth are pretty strong and sturdy, but they can, if beaten against too much, crack or chip. This is even more true if you are chewing on ice all day long, from your iced coffees and soft drinks.
If you or your child’s tooth cracks, then make sure to put the broken remnants into milk and visit a dentist ASAP. It could be possible to repair the tooth if you get to the dentist in time.
Destroy Oral Appliances
Do you or your child have braces or some other oral appliance? Chewing on ice can dent, break, or destroy oral appliances, and that’s an additional cost that you wouldn’t want to bear.
There are many other foods bad for teeth and for oral appliances that you will want to avoid. The more you can be cautious about what you put into your mouth, the safer your teeth will be.
Spoil Dental Fillings
Do you have dental fillings that have been in your mouth for years now? As time passes, these dental fillings that seemed so impervious become more fragile and vulnerable to damage. This is even more true if you keep chewing on ice throughout the week.
Replacing the dental filling is costly and will take time out of your day. Better to avoid it altogether by not chewing on ice at all. Also, speak to your children about it, since their teeth are more vulnerable to such damage.
Chewing Ice Might Seem Innocuous…
..But it’s truly not. This doesn’t mean that you need to give up on your delicious iced coffees and other iced drinks. You just need to avoid chewing ice since it could result in unwanted damage to your teeth.
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