A TikTok dentist has shared a horrifying video of what might happen if you like to chew ice with your teeth. Watch the viral vid below:
*WARNING - VIDEO CONTAINS DISTRESSING CONTENT*
The doctor, who goes by the TikTok handle @the.teeth.doc, captioned the video: "Don't chew ice guys!"
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In the clip above, he uses a utensil to show a set of damaged teeth - one had completely broken as a result of ice chewing.
In the text overlay of another vid, he gives an explanation of why major damage might be caused to your teeth.
He said: "Pica is defined as 'craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value, such as ice, clay, soil and paper'.
"Tag your friends and warn them.
"Chewing ice breaks teeth and can be a symptom of a bigger issue such as anaemia."
Some in the comments were flabbergasted while others were a bit more sceptical of his claims.
One person said: "I chew ice every day and I got purely white all straight never had braces so she chewing on rocks."
Another said: "You sure she’s chewing ice?"
While a third commented: "No. That's not from ice."
However, others said that they had experienced similar issues.
One person said: "Yup this just happened to me. My tooth are cracking cuz of ice [sic]."
Another said: "Oh so that's how I broke a tooth when younger and am now waiting till it falls out since the other half fell out."
According to Medical News Today, eating ice is ‘not usually dangerous’ but can lead to a risk of dental and oral issues.
“Consuming a lot of ice can damage tooth enamel and cause cracks or chips in the teeth,” the site explains.
“This can lead to further problems, such as increased sensitivity to temperature and oral pain.
“In one case report, doctors related that a person who had chewed 30 ice cubes or more each day for over 20 years — using the teeth on the left side — experienced changes in the jaw and cavities on that side only.
“People who continually chew ice may need dental work for cavities, including replacing lost fillings.”
Other issues people might face include ‘anaemia complications’, ‘dietary problems’ and ‘other pica complications’.
The site added how sucking on or chewing ice in moderation is 'unlikely to cause harm', but that a 'compulsion to eat ice' may require medical attention - and that if ice cravings last for longer than one month, you should visit your doctor to investigate the underlying cause.
Anish Vij