Do you enjoy eating and munching on ice? It can be satisfying and refreshing, but it can also do some serious harm to your teeth. What are some of the underlying causes that may make you crave chewing on ice? The following article addresses many of conditions that may be causing your thirst for ice. Thank you for visiting us at Saddlerock Pediatric Dentistry of Aurora, CO. 

Many people who want to cool down or feel refreshed will eat ice or add it to their drink. Sucking on ice cubes can also help people find relief from dry mouth symptoms.

However, continually craving ice and crunching on ice cubes could be bad for a person’s teeth and may be a sign of an underlying condition that requires medical attention.

Read on to discover the possible causes of ice cravings and how to treat them.

Underlying conditions that cause ice cravings

The following conditions can make people want to eat or chew on ice:

Pagophagia

Ice cravings may be caused by nutritional deficiencies or emotional issues.

Pagophagia is the term for someone who frequently craves ice.

The cravings can be persistent and often last for more than a month.

Pagophagia is a rare form of an eating disorder called pica. Pica often accompanies other mental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia and gives people compulsive cravings for foods that have no real nutritional value.

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