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Originally Posted by Tasaio  I find chewing ice cubes is an *excellent* substitute for chewing something worse -- say, a chocolate bar or chips. It's just water. |
Ever try sugarless gum? It's an *excellent* substitute for ice cubes.
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Originally Posted by Tasaio But dentists tell you not to, because it supposedly chips the enamel off your teeth. Also, I'll occasionally swallow an ice cube whole, without chewing at all.
Aside from chipping the enamel off your teeth, what are some of the side effects of chewing ice? |
Well if you like chewing on rocks, then I suppose ice cubes are ok. Don't confuse ice with water. Ice is
crystallized water and is very tough. Other than the enamel damage you mentioned, putting ice in your mouth may cause microfractures in your teeth due to the quick changes in temperature between hot and freezing (temperature under your tongue is 36.6 degrees Celsius, and ice is 0 degrees Celsius or less). This will weaken the structural integrity of your teeth. Of course I'm not a dentist, so if you want a professional opinion on this you should ask one directly.