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.
