Crave Ice? What Could It Mean?
by Dr. Rita Dargham D.M.D.
Read Crave Ice? What Could It Mean? by Dr. Rita Dargham D.M.D. to learn more about Grove Smiles® Dentistry and our Dentistry office in Coconut Grove, FL.
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Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Your lunch or dinner was wonderful and now you look across the table along with the rest of the diners to see your loved one chomping and chewing ice. You assumed it to be a habit but now research now suggests it maybe a signal to an underlying health problem.
Crunching Ice Is First of All Not Cool For Your Teeth
Many enjoy chomping down on those last few ice cubes at the bottom of their glass, but is it really that bad for your dental health? Absolutely!
Ice is an incredibly hard substance, and when pitted against teeth it can do serious damage to our enamel. Repeated grinding against ice and other hard substances can result in enamel cracking and erosion. Because enamel has no living cells, the body cannot repair any chips or cracks on its own—they will require enamel restoration treatments.
Are Ice Cravings More Than Preference?
Ice cravings are fairly common–especially among expecting mothers–but not all of these cravings are driven by enjoyment alone. The compulsive consumption of ice, known as pagophagia, has recently been linked to anemia—a lack of iron in the blood. Anemia can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. But don’t worry, if diagnosed by a doctor, anemia is easily treatable with daily iron supplements. Scientists still aren’t sure why the link between chewing ice and anemia exists, but many suspect it may the body’s natural response to relieve oral inflammation caused by anemia.
Total Health and Wellness in Coconut Grove
Excessive ice cravings affect far more than just your teeth. Remember dentists are not just looking for cavities at your routine checkup. A quick examination of your mouth can reveal a lot more about your oral and overall health than you think.
At Grove Smiles Dentistry, we care about far more than just the health of your smile! If you or someone you care about has questions about ice cravings and what this habit may be saying about your health, feel free to set an appointment or ask your questions here! We’d love to work with you to ensure that not only your entire family’s smile is healthy, but their whole body as well.
For Your Health,
Dr. Rita Dargham D.M.D.
