The harms of eating ice, the causes of its craving and its treatment

Many of us resort to eating ice and chewing it straight from the freezer, wanting to get refreshed, especially on hot days, but some may even become addicted! So we will learn about the harms of eating ice that you did not expect.

Snow Craving Pagophagia

This condition is scientifically known as (pagophagia) or in the sense of snow oozing, and it expresses the constant desire to chew and eat ice frequently, but unfortunately this strange condition may be an indication of a problem that you do not expect, such as nutritional deficiency or eating disorders, and may even result This habit has some damage as well.

Reasons to eat snow

Why eat a lot of snow? It may be caused by your desire to eat ice greedily, and there is a problem related to nutritional deficiency as we mentioned before, including:

Disadvantages of eating ice

There are some damages that result from eating ice, especially if it is the result of a pathological condition such as anemia, which has not been treated, and some complications may result, such as:

  • Complications resulting from anemia (anaemia): growth disorders, problems during pregnancy or heart problems.
  • Complications from pica: This condition may result in problems such as intestinal obstruction, poisoning, choking or intestinal problems.

Effects of eating ice on the teeth

Ice is a hard body, and therefore excessive consumption of it harms the teeth, and may even result in damage to the tooth enamel due to the erosion of the tooth enamel caused by eating ice, and thus may cause a condition known as sensitivity of the teeth to cold and hot foods and drinks.

It is also worth noting that eating ice constantly may cause tooth decay.

Side effects of eating ice on the tongue

Eating too much ice may harm the health of the tongue, as this may cause a condition known as glossitis.

Effects of eating ice on the heart

Craving for ice and eating it a lot may affect the health of the heart and cause an increase in its beat, and the heart may be affected if eating ice is caused by anemia that has not been treated.

Snow craving treatment

To determine the appropriate treatment, the cause must be determined first. For example, if the anemia is caused by iron deficiency, iron supplements may be resorted to, in order to reduce cravings for snow, but if the cause is in the case of pica, the treatment here may be a little different, and the doctor will determine Appropriate treatment.

If dry mouth is the cause, try replacing ice with sugarless gum to increase saliva rather than damage your teeth.

In the end, do not leave yourself without consulting a doctor if you find that the matter continues with you and is causing you a problem, to find out the cause and determine the appropriate treatment for your condition without complications.

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