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Does Craving Ice in Pregnancy Damage Your Teeth?
Isobel Berry
Many pregnant women experience short-term cravings for certain types of food; some have odder cravings for things that aren't food. Known as pica, this type of craving can make you want eat odd substances such as paper, stones, chalk, clay and laundry starch, according to the American Pregnancy Association. If you want to crunch down on ice cubes or eat frost from your freezer all the time, you're likely to be suffering from a specific type of pica, pagophagia.Although eating frozen water may not be as harmful to your baby as eating other pica substances, it may not be so good for your teeth.
How Pagophagia Affects Your Teeth
Although the water content of ice may not be damaging, ice is hard, making it an unfriendly snack for teeth. Your teeth may have to exert a lot of pressure to crack ice cubes, especially if you eat them all the time. Like any other hard substance, ice may add too much stress to a tooth, especially if it has a filling or flaw that makes it more likely to break when you eat a hard substance. Over time, pagophagia may also affect otherwise healthy teeth and increase the sensitivity of your teeth and gums.
The Effects of Eating Ice in Pregnancy
Pregnancy pagophagia is typically a short-term problem. Your cravings may only last for a few weeks or months or may stop once you've had your baby. According to the Australian Dental Association, the fact that your craving won't be long-term or permanent may reduce the harmful effects of eating ice.
Although this may make you feel better about your craving, you may still get unlucky and crack a filling or fracture a tooth if you persistently chew down on ice cubes. If you think you have pagophagia, you should mention it to your dentist at a place like Jeffcott Dental Clinic, who can check out your teeth and spot potential problem areas.
It's even more important to tell your doctor that you're having cravings for ice. According to Healthdirect Australia, pica in pregnancy may be brought on by anaemia or a lack of minerals. Your doctor can run tests to see if you need supplements, which may make your unusual cravings disappear.
Tip: If your doctor can't find a cause for your pagophagia, you may need to manage the craving yourself. It may help to keep yourself busy and to chew sugar-free gum when you have a craving. If you can face going cold turkey, don't keep ice in the house.
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