People might suck or chew on ice on a hot summer day or after finishing a drink. But what does it mean if you constantly crave ice? While it depends on the circumstances, frequency, and intensity of the craving, a compelling urge to chew ice could mean that you have a physical or mental health condition.
Learn more about ice cravings and the disorders they could be signs of, such as ice pica and iron deficiency. We also talk about how to know when an urge to chew ice is problematic, and how to stop your cravings if they have risen to this level.
Reasons You May Be Craving Ice
Craving ice occasionally is usually nothing to worry about. It’s when the craving becomes obsessive—both in terms of the amount of time and energy devoted to thinking about eating ice and actually doing it—that there is cause for concern. Here are some reasons you might have an urge to always chew ice.
Ice Pica
When persistent eating of ice lasts longer than a month and is clinically impactful in your life, it may be diagnosed as a form of pica. Pica is a mental health condition where people crave and eat non-nutritive items such as dirt, hair, paper, ice, or sand.1
The form of pica that involves intense cravings for ice is called ice pica or pagophagia. It is characterized by an addiction-like compulsion to suck, eat, or chew ice and/or to drink ice-cold beverages. Because of this compulsion, pica is considered an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).2
Fun Fact
The oldest suspected case of pagophagia is Theophilus (813-842), a Byzantine Emperor who often ate snow and ice.3
People with ice pica may want specific types of ice or desire to consume it in specific ways. For example, one person may compulsively want to drink ice cold drinks, while others eat ice coated in sugary syrups. Some fixate on chewing ice and others suck on it like a hard candy until it dissolves.
Iron Deficiency
Craving ice and/or ice-cold drinks can also be associated with iron deficiency, with or without anemia. The reason for this association is not completely clear, but there are a couple of theories.
One is that iron deficiency causes fatigue, making you feel tired all the time. So, some researchers speculate that the urge to eat ice or drink cold beverages starts as a subconscious way to keep alert since the low temperature of ice provides an energy boost.4 Others theorize that eating ice helps soothe the swollen tongue that often accompanies anemia.5
Regardless of the cause, certain individuals are at higher risk of developing this condition. This includes women who are pregnant or menstruating, children, and anyone who drinks a lot of cow’s milk or consumes primarily low-iron foods.6
Iron deficiency and ice pica often occur together. In a study of blood donors, 11% of people with iron depletion also had ice pica, compared with 4% of those with sufficient iron levels.7 Some researchers suggest that this is because pica is a sign of iron deficiency rather than being a cause.1
Some researchers suggest that other nutritional deficiencies may play a role in pica as well, including being deficient in zinc and calcium.8
Other Causes
Ice cravings can also be associated with several other medical conditions, including:4
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Dementia
- Intellectual disabilities
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Schizophrenia
If you constantly crave ice or are always chewing ice, a healthcare provider can help determine the cause.
Consequences of Constantly Chewing Ice
One negative consequence of regularly chewing ice is the damage this does to the teeth. Since ice is cold and hard, it can weaken the tooth’s structure, sometimes causing it to break or crack, also increasing the tooth’s vulnerability to decay.9 This can result in big dental bills and a marred smile.
Another worrisome component of constant ice cravings is that you may be consuming ice in lieu of nutritious food. Some research has also found a connection between pagophagia and eating disorders.10
Signs Ice Cravings May Be a Problem
How do you know when your ice cravings or ice-chewing habit may be an indicator of a mental or physical health issue? Here are some signs to watch for:
- You’re not craving ice for the purpose of hydration, i.e., you’ve been working outside in the heat for several hours and are thirsty
- Your desire for ice is obsessive and consuming
- You spend a great deal of time thinking about ice and/or engaging in the act of chewing or sucking on it
The major difference between just liking to consume ice and pagophagia is that the latter is a prolonged, unrelenting longing rather than a simple preference.
Regardless of how it presents, a constant desire for and/or consumption of ice can be a sign of a physical or mental health condition.
Identifying the Cause of Your Ice Cravings
If you have ice cravings, finding the cause is important for good health. Undiagnosed and untreated iron-deficiency anemia can lead to heart problems, pregnancy complications, and developmental delays in children.11
If you have ice pica and this goes untreated, it can result in significant health risks, such as those related to imbalanced electrolyte levels and metabolic disorders.1 There’s also the daily impact and mental health toll of coping with a constant urge to eat ice.
Making an appointment with your primary care provider or a mental health professional is a good place to start and they can refer you to a specialist if needed. When meeting with them, being honest about the frequency and intensity of your ice cravings and behaviors is critical to them making a correct diagnosis.
Both ice pica and iron deficiency can go undiagnosed if you don’t share your compulsion with your health providers and/or they don’t ask about it—and they may not ask about ice cravings as studies show that many medical professionals aren’t aware of pica disorders, causing them to miss this diagnosis.1
Treatment for Ice Cravings
The treatment for resolving ice cravings depends on the underlying cause. If you have iron deficiency with anemia, for instance, an iron supplement is generally a first-line treatment. In serious cases, intravenous iron infusion, blood transfusion, or surgery may be recommended instead.11
Research on effective pagophagia treatments is scarce. Some studies say that rectifying nutritional deficiencies often causes pagophagia to completely resolve. Others suggest that, since a deficiency isn’t always present, it’s important to look for and treat any underlying psychological condition, with OCD, depression, and anxiety being potential considerations.3
In cases such as this, treating ice pica may involve counseling, with one option being cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can help by identifying negative thoughts contributing to a person’s psychological distress, then finding ways to change these thoughts for a healthier emotional and behavioral response.12
For example, sometimes people chew ice as a way to relieve stress. CBT can teach healthier stress management techniques, such as exercise or mindfulness, which can also help to boost energy levels.
If dental health has been impacted, people with pagophagia may also require treatment from a dentist who can repair their teeth and provide guidance on ways to prevent further damage.
It’s important to note that, while these treatments may help, they may not entirely resolve the ice cravings. Once the compulsion to chew ice has become habitual, it can be hard to break.
Coping With Ice Cravings
If you find yourself often craving ice, getting treatment from a qualified practitioner is your first step. Becoming more aware of your condition, acknowledging that your compulsion for ice has become a problem, and taking steps to resolve the underlying issues can help get you on the right path.
It may also be helpful to replace your ice craving with another habit that is less detrimental. Examples include eating an apple, chewing gum, or even consuming a cold ice-less drink.
Sharing your condition with loved ones who can support your efforts and provide encouragement and a safe place to talk about how ice cravings are impacting you may strengthen your resolve to overcome this compulsion. Finding effective stress relief measures helps, too.
A Word From Verywell
For most people, ice is just a way to cool their drink, but it can be a sign of a health issue. If you suspect that your cravings for ice veer from an occasional pleasure into an iron deficiency or psychological compulsion that is taking up too much time and attention—and potentially chipping your teeth—seek help from your care provider or mental health counselor. Help does exist.