Chewing Ice? Good or Bad?

Do you find yourself frequently chewing on ice? Although the act of chewing on ice cubes may seem to be a harmless pastime, the constant need to chew ice may signal a more serious problem. One major problem associated with younger women is iron deficiency anemia. One in five women has this condition, which is often caused by blood loss from heavy menstrual bleeding or fibroids. However, both sexes can suffer from anemia. They may have blood loss from ulcers, hemorrhoids, bleeding polyps or even colorectal cancer. Some symptoms of anemia may include weakness, fatigue, pale gums, brittle nails, and shortness of breath. Another deficiency symptom is a sore tongue, which explains why people with anemia chew on ice. If you chew on ice constantly and or have any other symptoms, you should get a check up from your primary health provider. Almost all patients that have been diagnosed with anemia and properly treated with iron supplements or injections saw their cravings for chewing ice diminished within two weeks.

Even if your blood tests for iron deficiency come back normal, chewing ice can have negative consequences in the form of injury to your teeth. Chomping down on one too many ice cubes can cause tooth sensitivity and your teeth to chip or fracture, which can result in formation of an abscess and a trip to your dentist for a root canal.

What do you love about Metro Sqaure Dental Associates?

From your very first visit to Metro Square Dental Associates our doctors and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our VIP patients: Have you been especially impressed by our office? Did our team go out of their way to make your day?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. You can write a review here on our Google Place page. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page

Thank you,
The team at Metro Square Dental Associates

Come visit us at the College of Lake County

Come visit us at the College of Lake County
Tuesday, November 2, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Fitness, Health & Safety Fair
Grayslake Campus - LRC Atrium
Come and talk to businesses dealing with fitness, health and safety. Topics to be covered include: Health and Wellness, Safety, Nutrition, Fire Prevention, Dental Health, Cancer Prevention, Alcohol and Drug Prevention, Sexual Assault Awareness, Physical Therapy, Skin Care, Athletic Training, Women’s Health, Sports Medicine, Chiropractic and Massage, Blood Drive Donations, Fitness and more! This event is sponsored by the CLC Health and Safety Committee.

Time to Flex That Flexible Spending Account

You're still trying to get through that case of aspirin you bought last December, and you've never worn the prescription sunglasses you picked up about the same time. Instead of buying a bunch of stuff you don't really want at year-end to avoid losing the money in your flexible spending account, this is a friendly reminder as we pass the midpoint of the year to start spending NOW.

Procrastination may be understandable. But about a third of people leave an average of $168 unspent in their FSAs every year, according to Hewitt Associates. The funds go back to their employers—and that's just idiotic. The typical balance in an FSA is about $2,500, says J.D. Piro, principal and chair of the health law consulting practice at Hewitt. "As a percentage of the account, $168 is fairly low, but it's very high if it's your $168."

Your employer may allow you a grace period of up to 2½ months into the following year during which you can use up any leftover contributions. Check with your company to see if you have that option.

Generally, you can use your FSA contributions for qualified medical and dental expenses, as spelled out in this IRS publication (.pdf). It's a pretty broad list, covering everything from acupuncture to in vitro fertilization. However, individual employers may edit the list of qualified expenses, so make sure you check to see what your company allows.

You can get reimbursed for copayments, deductibles, and other amounts not paid by your plan, but you can't use it for health insurance premiums. FSA dollars are also good for over-the-counter medicine, so make sure you hang onto your receipts. You can even use your FSA to cover mileage costs related to medical care. That may not have been a big deal in years past, but with $4-a-gallon gas, that 20 cents a mile is looking better all the time.

Halloween Suggestions to Prevent Tooth Decay

As a dentist, I assure you that all candies are not necessarily harmful to teeth. From an oral health perspective, candy can be enjoyed provided that sugar is not left on teeth and cavity-causing bacteria are reduced. Sticky foods or frequent snacks are most likely to cause tooth decay. It does not make any difference what type of sugar contacts your teeth. Fructose from bananas, maltose from milk, or sucrose from candy can all cause decay if they are allowed to remain on teeth

Have Your Teeth and Eat Your Candy Too

1. Throw away all hard candies. Hard candies are most likely to promote tooth decay because they remain in the mouth for an extended time. Hard candies can also cause a chipped tooth and cause young children to choke.

2. Encourage children not to eat their candy until after Halloween. This will give parents a chance to inspect and sort the treats.

3. Sticky candies can damage dental work, such as fillings and dental bridges, and orthodontic appliances, like dental braces and retainers. However, they are not as cariogenic as previously thought. If you must chew gum, use only sugar-free brands.

4. Eat candy only when you can brush your teeth immediately afterward. Candy for desert after a balanced meal is acceptable. Do not include candy in school lunches or allow your children to eat continuously throughout the day.

5. Always practice good oral hygiene. This includes brushing two to three times each day for at least two minutes, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. It is best to brush immediately after a meal. If you are not able to brush your teeth, rinse your mouth with water. Brushing before bedtime is particularly beneficial. It is also important to use dental floss to remove food from between teeth.

Dangerous Candies

Hard candies, like jaw-breakers and suckers cause tooth decay. This is because they are designed to stay in the mouth for long periods of time. From a dental perspective, a two-pound bag of soft candy consumed in one minute does less damage to teeth than a single hard candy left in the mouth for two minutes!

Sticky Candies

Dentists used to think that taffy or caramel caused more cavities because they are sticky. However, recent studies suggest that the sugar in caramel dissolves quickly and is washed off teeth faster than the sugar in soda crackers. Cookies, cereal, potato chips, dried fruit, crackers and bananas are actually the stickiest types of foods.

Tooth-Friendly Candies and Foods

Some dentists have suggested that chocolate may prevent cavities, but this subject remains controversial. The tannin in cocoa appears to inhibit plaque formation. Plaque is the sticky film that forms on the tooth surface and promotes tooth decay. Caveat: Processed candy chocolate may not offer the same benefits as cocoa tannin. I believe that any cavity fighting advantage that may be gained from tannin is negated by the sugar in chocolate.

Many studies show that chewing gum increases salivary flow. Saliva is important because it washes food away from teeth. I do not encourage patients to chew gum. If you enjoy gum, purchase sugarless brands. Sugarless gums usually contain artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohol (e.g., mannitol syrup). If the ingredients include dextrose, sucrose, maltose, fructose or any word ending in "ose," it is probably not a sugar-free product. Chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing teeth.

Aged cheeses like mozzarella, jack and cheddar also increase salivary flow. They may also act as a buffer to neutralize the acids that attack teeth. The calcium in dairy products strengthens teeth.

Some foods that are relatively less likely to cause cavities are popcorn, peanuts and sunflower seeds. Researchers theorize that the fat in these foods reduce the amount of fermentable carbohydrates that contact teeth. Salivary enzymes convert carbohydrates to sugars.

Welcome to our Blog

Welcome to our Blog. Please check often for updates on fun and exciting events and happenings at our office, important and interesting about dentistry and the latest news about our practice.

Feel free to leave a comment or question for our doctors and staff – we hope this will be a valuable resource for our patients and their families.