291 Main Street, North Reading, MA 01864

Blog

Ice Cravings – A Sign of Something Worse?

North Reading dentists at Inertia Dental tell you how ice cravings could be a sign of something much more serious.We all know someone who asks for extra ice just so they can chew on it. And we’ve probably all heard that chewing ice is not healthy for your teeth. So what’s the truth? Is it best to put a stop to ice chewing? Absolutely, and for more reasons than most people are aware of. Inertia Dental wants all North Reading residents to know why chewing ice is a bad habit, so please read on for the facts!  

Why should I stop chewing ice?

Ice is hard. So hard, in fact, that pitting it against your teeth regularly will most certainly result in damage to your enamel. If you have pagophagia (the fancy name for ice cravings), it’s likely that you will need enamel restoration treatments, which are pricey and can be quite uncomfortable. 

However, that is not the most pressing reason to be aware of an ice chewing habit. Recent research indicates that pagophagia may actually be a sign of anemia (a lack of iron in the blood), which can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. 

Scientists aren’t sure exactly why the link exists, but they suspect it may be due to the oral inflammation caused by anemia. Such inflammation could conceivably spark an urge to seek relief in the form of ice.

Is ice chewing really a ‘thing’?

It definitely is. Hardcore ice enthusiasts keep ice by their side all day long, and may even put away multiple pounds of the stuff each day. If you still think this is doubtful, check online and you will find that there is an entire community of ice lovers and ice-chewing websites.

Why am I having ice cravings?

With a simple blood test, your doctor can tell you if you are an anemic ice chewer seeking the soothing cold of a good ice cube. And if you are, don’t panic! Anemia is easily treatable with daily iron supplements.

Once you have that taken care of, come see Inertia Dental for a checkup and we’ll assess any enamel damage that your ice chewing may have caused. 

If you have questions, contact us anytime! And remember to order that drink without ice next time! 

 

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. 

Inertia Dental
Tue
10:00AM-6:00PM
Wed
8:30AM-2:30PM
Thu
10:00AM-6:00PM
Fri
8:30AM-2:30PM
Don't Delay, Schedule Your Appointment Today!
Menu
Need help?
Accessibility
Accessibility Options
Accessibility On Our Website

We are committed to continuously improving access to our goods and services by individuals with disabilities. If you are unable to use any aspect of this website because of a disability, please call (978) 222-7727 and we will provide you with prompt personalized assistance.

If you have trouble seeing web pages, the US Social Security Administration offers these tips for optimizing your computer and browser to improve your online experience.

If you are looking for mouse and keyboard alternatives, speech recognition software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking may help you navigate web pages and online services. This software allows the user to move focus around a web page or application screen through voice controls.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, there are several accessibility features available to you.

Closed Captioning

Closed captioning provides a transcript for the audio track of a video presentation that is synchronized with the video and audio tracks. Captions are generally visually displayed over the video, which benefits people who are deaf and hard of hearing, and anyone who cannot hear the audio due to noisy environments. Most of our website’s video content includes automated captions. Learn how to turn captioning on and off in YouTube.

Volume Controls

Your computer, tablet, or mobile device has volume control features. Each video and audio service has its own additional volume controls. Try adjusting both your device’s volume controls and your media players’ volume controls to optimize your listening experience.

Direct Link

Appointments
Need help?

"*" indicates required fields

Step 1 of 2

Schedule Appointment: STEP 1 OF 2

When would be most convenient for you?

Do not include sensitive personal, financial, or other confidential information (Social Security, account number, login, passwords, etc.). This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Helpful Resources

Below are links you may find helpful when scheduling an appointment with us.

Office Amenities

Our office has several amenities for your convenience and comfort such as:

  • Comfort Dogs
  • Beverage Bar
  • Massage Chairs
  • In-Room TV’s
Notifications
Latest Articles

No Tradesies: Packing Mouth-Healthy Lunches for Kiddos

Breakfast is always being touted as the most important meal of the...

No Tradesies: Packing Mouth-Healthy Lunches for Kiddos (featured image)

Stop Tooth Pain & Sensitivity Now!

Why Are My Teeth Sensitive? There are many specialized toothbrushes...

Stop Tooth Pain & Sensitivity Now! (featured image)

Good, Clean, Wholesome Family Dentistry

You love your teeth. You brush them twice a day, floss once a day,...

Good, Clean, Wholesome Family Dentistry (featured image)
Follow Us On Social Media

Facebook

Stay informed on updates and upcoming events from our office.

YouTube

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

TikTok

See the fun our team is having on TikTok.

Your Privacy
Privacy Policy

This privacy notice discloses our privacy practices. This privacy notice applies solely to information collected by this website. It will notify you of the following:

  1. What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the website, how it is used and with whom it may be shared.
  2. What choices are available to you regarding the use of your data.
  3. The security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information.
  4. How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.

Information Collection, Use, and Sharing

We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone.

We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request, e.g. to ship an order.

Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about specials, new products or services, or changes to this privacy policy.

Your Access to and Control Over Information

You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number given on our website:

  • See what data we have about you, if any.
  • Change/correct any data we have about you.
  • Have us delete any data we have about you.
  • Express any concern you have about our use of your data.

Security

We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline.

Wherever we collect sensitive information (such as credit card data), that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a lock icon in the address bar and looking for “https” at the beginning of the address of the Web page.

While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment.

If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, you should contact us immediately.

Search
Search the Website

Use keywords in the search box below to find what you're looking for.

Special Offers
New Patient Specials

Please check back often for New Patient Specials.

Schedule Appointment

Go to the Top of the Page