Your teeth and jaw muscles are incredibly powerful, capable of crushing even the hardest foods. However, certain habits, like chewing ice, push your teeth beyond their limits, potentially leading to damage. Learn how ice-chewing accelerates tooth wear, the warning signs to watch for, and what you can do to protect your smile.
Why Is Ice Chewing Harmful?
When enjoying a cold drink, chewing on larger pieces of ice can be tempting. While satisfying, breaking ice with your teeth can require up to 250 pounds of pressure! Chewing ice can be linked to iron deficiency and tongue inflammation, but more often, it’s simply a habit that needs to be broken to protect your teeth.
How Ice Affects Your Teeth
Your teeth are made up of layers of mineralized tissue that protect the soft nerves and blood supply at their core. The enamel, your teeth’s outermost layer, is the hardest substance in your body. However, it’s relatively brittle and prone to damage without the support of the underlying dentin.
When you bite down on ice, an extreme temperature change occurs, causing the enamel’s crystallized structure to expand and contract. This stress, combined with the pressure of chewing, can lead to microfractures in the enamel. Over time, these small cracks can weaken your teeth and lead to more significant damage.
Warning Signs of a Cracked Tooth
Sometimes a cracked tooth gives clear warning signs, such as:
- Sharp pain when biting: If you experience sudden pain when chewing certain foods, this could indicate that the crack is expanding under pressure.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold: Teeth that are sensitive to temperature changes may be developing microfractures.
- A broken tooth: If a tooth suddenly breaks, especially one with large silver fillings, it may have been compromised by long-term ice chewing.
If you notice any of these signs, don’t ignore them. A cracked tooth can worsen over time, potentially leading to more complex treatments like extractions if not treated promptly.
What Should You Do if You Crack a Tooth?
In many cases, dentists can save cracked teeth even if a piece breaks off. If you experience bite pain that persists after chewing or discomfort out of the blue, you may have a deeper crack. Timely dental care can salvage many cracked teeth before the damage becomes severe.
Ignoring the problem can lead to more extensive damage, such as a split tooth that requires removal. Moreover, chewing ice or hard candies can damage porcelain restorations, crowns, or fillings, mimicking the structure of your natural teeth but still vulnerable to misuse.
Schedule an Appointment if You Experience Symptoms
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible. Our team will perform a few simple tests to determine the extent of the crack and recommend the most conservative treatment options to restore your tooth.
Also Check : What Causes Tooth Loss? How to Prevent It and Protect Your Smile