‘Extremely painful’ ice-chewing risks revealed by dentists

Oh, hail no!

Dentists are sharing the risks of chewing ice, warning that it can lead to chipped or fractured teeth and increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.

“Tooth enamel is made up of rod-like structures that are composed of thousands of microscopic crystals,” Dr. Roopali Kulkarni, a doctor of dental medicine and a consumer advisor spokesperson for the American Dental Association, explained to USA Today this week. “Ice is also considered a crystal, so when you push two crystals together with force, one of them will give.” 

People may chew ice out of boredom, hunger or stress, to stop smoking, to satisfy pregnancy cravings or simply because they like the sound of the crunch. They may not even realize they are doing it, especially in the summer.

Compulsive ice eating is called pagophagia, which has long been tied to iron-deficiency anemia. It’s unclear how many people have this condition — one journal article called it a “common but rarely reported form of pica,” a psychological disorder where people frequently swallow non-food items.

Some people have laid bare their ice-chewing habit on social media. A Reddit community called Ice Chewers Anonymous has 8,400 members who share how they achieve the “perfect ice.”

Whatever the reason, dentists want you to stop chewing ice. Some have even taken to TikTok to show in gruesome detail what can happen if you continue the habit.

Chewing on hard substances can lead to tooth microfractures, Dr. Gretchen Yarborough warned in a PSA last year.

“These microfractures will propagate with clenching and grinding and time,” the South Carolina dentist explained. “Fracturing a tooth is extremely painful, and the treatment is extraction, bone grafting, and implant placement.”

That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Dr. Natalie Peterson, a doctor of dental surgery at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, told USA Today that the coldness of the ice could cause problems for fillings and crowns because they “may have different rates of expansion and contraction due to temperature changes compared to your natural tooth.”

For those chewing over quitting, experts recommend letting the ice melt on your tongue instead of munching on it or forgoing ice altogether in drinks to avoid temptation.

Slushies or snow cones are much softer on the teeth. Those still craving a crunch may consider switching to baby carrots or apple slices.