Is chewing ice bad for the teeth? I always find myself chewing on one after every meal

It can cause gum injury, small fractures in the enamel which can lead to larger fractures and broken teeth. If you chew on it just cause you want to chew on something, try to switch to sugarless gum. But sometimes the urge to chew is also a sign of iron deficiency or stress, or worse, pica (a disorder which causes you to eat things with no nutritional value like ice, clay, cornstarch or paper

If it's an uncontrollable urge to eat ice, have yourself checked

Is that a sickness? So even eating crackers can also cause gum injury?

michael555 - 26 September 2008 12:30 AM

Is that a sickness? So even eating crackers can also cause gum injury?

Crackers are not as hard as ice why would it cause gum injury? Candies are what you can consider hard and can cause tooth decay,while chewing ice can cause broken teeth. If it's craving for crunch, try carrot sticks, celery, or apples.

On a different note, some psych majors say that chewing ice means you are sexually repressed. Any idea as to where this came from, if there is a psychological explanation at all?

Chewing ice can lead to tooth decay. Abrupt temperature changes that occur as tooth enamel meets ice in combination with ice's hard texture, can cause tiny fractures in the tooth surface. Bacteria can then make their way into the tooth interior through these cracks.

slushie - 26 September 2008 11:19 PM

On a different note, some psych majors say that chewing ice means you are sexually repressed. Any idea as to where this came from, if there is a psychological explanation at all?

I think this is an old wives' tale, maybe since they associate chewing on something as an oral fixation, which they say is a sign of sexual frustration

Is chewing ice really a exercise for the teeth or it is a bad habbit.

Well, based on the answers above and from what I know, it is bad for your teeth because it slowly chips away the enamels and can cause tooth decay

How can we prevent it because I have a friend after drinking soda he always chips the ice?

Craving and chewing ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency anemia — although it may be associated with other nutritional problems as well.

The desire to chew ice cubes may also be a symptom of iron-deficiency anemia or other physical or emotional conditions, such as nutritional deficiencies, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or developmental disorders. This is known as pica, which refers to eating or wanting to eat substances that have no nutritional value, including ice, clay, cornstarch, and paper.

Thanks healthwealth I am now following advises post here in this theared. Little by little I am now avoding chewing ice.

HealthWealth - 26 October 2008 09:07 PM

The desire to chew ice cubes may also be a symptom of iron-deficiency anemia or other physical or emotional conditions, such as nutritional deficiencies, stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or developmental disorders. This is known as pica, which refers to eating or wanting to eat substances that have no nutritional value, including ice, clay, cornstarch, and paper.

Very well put ..... that is correct, the desire to chew ice cubes is one of the tell tale signs of iron deficiency anemia. It took me 1 1/2 years of high potented iron tablets before finding out the true cause of my anemia.

Can our gums be damage if we frequently chew ice?

Not sure about the gums but I do know the enamel of your teeth is slowly being destroyed.

Can chewing ice lessen the enamel content of our teeth?

robertbrown - 24 February 2009 08:05 PM

Can chewing ice lessen the enamel content of our teeth?

Enamel content?
Chewing ice actually has the potential to be fairly detrimental to the health of your teeth. Chewing anything as cold and hard as ice can potentially shock a nerve in a tooth, however, and you may end up requiring root canal therapy. If a piece of ice is between your teeth and you bite down at an unusual angle, you could potentially chip off part of the enamel on a tooth or crack off a filling. Chewing ice can also weaken the structure of a filling making a fracture or crack more likely. Keep in mind that root canals can be expensive and uncomfortable. Is it worth it?

Yes, cj is correct. When you chew ice the enamel content doesn’t decrease but it chip off the teeth and you might end up having a root canal. That’s awful.

That is scary. I better stop my habit of chewing ice after I drink. I don’t want to have a root canal.

stuffjoy - 19 March 2009 09:13 PM

That is scary. I better stop my habit of chewing ice after I drink. I don’t want to have a root canal.

Good choice.