It is considered normal to add few cubes of ice to drinks to give it a chill before drinking. However, some people who want to cool down or feel refreshed will eat ice. Some people can get relief from dry mouth symptoms by sucking on ice cubes.

When constant craving for ice cubes become a habit, it can be bad for a person’s teeth, and may also indicate underlying medical condition.

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Conditions That Cause Ice Cravings


There are some medical conditions that can make people want to eat or chew on ice. These includes:

Pagophagia

A Pagophagia is a person who has a persistent craving to eat ice. The yearnings for ice can often last more than a month. Pagophagia is an unusual form of eating disorder called pica. Pica makes people to obsessively crave for foods that has no nutritional value. It often accompanies other mental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.

Some researchers has established a connection between anemia and ice cravings. The reason for this cravings remains vague.

People with anemia have an deficient number of healthy red blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen around the body. In iron deficiency anemia, a lack of iron is the cause.

Typical symptoms of anemia include:

pale skin (pallor)
fatigue
feeling dizzy or lightheaded
swollen tongue
cold hands and feet
heart palpitations
breathlessness
chest pain

Reports from a recent research performed on people with iron deficiency anemia found that 13 of the 81 participants had symptoms of pagophagia. For some of these persons, taking iron supplements help to get rid of their ice cravings.

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According to one theory, chewing ice makes people with anemia feel more alert. Researchers believe that it triggers an effect that sends more blood up to the brain, which in turn supplies the brain with more oxygen.

Emotional issues

Some emotional issues can also make people want to chew on ice cubes. For example, a person with stress may find chewing on ice comforting.

Nutritional problems

People who constantly crave ice may have underlying dietary issues that aggravate the cravings. People commonly add flavored syrups to shaved ice, so cravings for this may be sugar cravings. People should reduce their intake of this type of ice due to high sugar content.

Dehydration

Ice cravings can be caused by mild dehydration. The cooling and soothing effect of ice cubes can ease a dry mouth, lips, quench thirst, and lower body temperature on a warm day.

What are the complications?

Eating ice can lead to complications, which include:

Dental issues

Chewing or licking ice in large quantities can damage tooth enamel and cause cracks or chips in the teeth. This can cause pain and higher sensitivity to temperature. People who continuously chew ice may need dental work to repair cavities and interchange lost fillings.

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Anemia complications

The complications that anemia can cause include:

heart failure
pregnancy complications such as premature birth or low birth weight
an increased risk for infections in children
stunted growth or development in children
Dietary problems

People with unusual ice cravings may be eating more ice than they realize. Adding sugar or flavoring to ice can cause weight gain and other problems relating to too much sugar ingestion.

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Pica complications

Ice is unlikely to cause any internal damage. But if a person with pica eats other non-food items, this could lead to severe internal problems, such as:

infections
bowel issues
poisoning
choking
obstructions forming in the intestine
tears developing in the intestine
Treatment

The treatment for ice cravings will depend on the cause of the problem. The treatment for pagophagia can vary since pica is a mental health issue. A doctor may recommend therapy in combination with anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications. Those with iron deficiency anemia can ease symptoms by taking iron supplements.

Source: http://healthdiary365.com/is-eating-of-ice-good-or-bad-for-the-body/