What Is Pagophagia And How Is It Treated? - WebMD

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Written by Lisa GuthrieMedically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on February 19, 2026

• Craving Ice
• What Are the Symptoms of Pagophagia?
• What Causes Pagophagia?
• Complications of Pagophagia
• Treatments for Pagophagia
• Takeaways
• Pagophagia FAQs

5 min read

If you have an intense craving to chew on ice, you might have a condition called pagophagia. A nutritional deficiency often causes this. Regularly chewing on ice can damage your teeth, and it might signal an underlying health condition.

Craving Ice

Pagophagia is an intense craving to chew on ice. You may have pagophagia if you find yourself frequently driven to chew on ice cubes, ice chips, or even frost from your freezer.

‌Pagophagia is a type of pica. Pica is the desire to eat nonnutritious items, such as dirt or paper. If your craving is for ice, then you have a specific type of pica called pagophagia.

If you occasionally enjoy crunching on leftover ice cubes — such as when you finish a fountain drink — that isn’t pagophagia. Chewing on ice only becomes pagophagia when the drive to chew ice is intense and doesn’t go away.

What Are the Symptoms of Pagophagia?

The main symptom of pagophagia is chewing ice. People with pagophagia regularly chew ice cubes, shaved ice, crushed ice, or frost. 

If you have pagophagia, you might also have some of the following symptoms:

• Pale and dry skin
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Sore tongue
• Rapid heartbeat
• Depression
• Dizziness

These symptoms aren’t caused by chewing ice, however. They are tied to anemia, a common cause of pagophagia.

What Causes Pagophagia?

Iron deficiency. Iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia is the most common cause of pagophagia. In one study, 16% of people with iron deficiency anemia reported a strong craving to chew on ice.‌

There are reasons for this. People with iron deficiency anemia want to chew on ice as it helps them feel more alert and mentally sharp.

Calcium deficiency. Low levels of calcium can also trigger pagophagia.

Eating disorders. An eating disorder may also cause you to have an urge to chew on ice. This can be because your body wants nutrients that it is lacking. People with eating disorders may chew on ice to feel full without taking in any calories.

Dry mouth. If you have xerostomia, or dry mouth, you might pick up a habit of chewing ice to keep moisture in your mouth.

Developmental and mental health issues. Other causes of pagophagia include stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and developmental disorders.

Complications of Pagophagia

Dental health problems. Pagophagia can have serious consequences for your dental health. The American Dental Association lists ice as one of the top foods that damage your teeth.

Chewing ice can:

• Damage your tooth enamel, making you more likely to get cavities
• Damage braces or fillings
• Crack your teeth
• Irritate your gums and cause gum recession

‌Malnutrition. If your craving for ice has pushed other food items off your plate, pagophagia can cause malnutrition. The risk of malnutrition increases if your ice chewing habit is primarily caused by an eating disorder.

Anemia complications. Iron deficiency anemia, the most common cause of pagophagia, can lead to serious complications if not treated.

Complications include:

• Irregular heartbeat
• ‌Enlarged heart
• ‌Pregnancy complications such as premature birth
• More infections
• ‌Growth and development delays in children

Treatments for Pagophagia

If you have pagophagia, you need to treat the underlying cause.

If your pagophagia is caused by iron deficiency, treatment will depend on the severity of your anemia.

Treatment options include:

• Increasing the iron in your diet by eating foods rich in iron, such as eggs, leafy greens, and enriched breads
• Iron supplements, either over-the-counter or prescribed
• Iron infusions
• Blood transfusions

‌With proper treatment, you can expect your symptoms to improve quickly. Even before your hemoglobin levels rise, you will find you have less of a craving for ice. Hemoglobin is the measure of red blood cells that carry oxygen in your body. A low level can mean you have an iron deficiency.

If your pagophagia is caused by an eating disorder, stress, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, then cognitive behavioral therapy can help. Talk to your doctor about referring you to a mental health specialist.

If your pagophagia is caused by dry mouth, try switching from ice to sugar-free chewing gum. This will be safer for your teeth and will encourage saliva production. Depending on the cause, there are several dry mouth treatments available that can increase saliva production. 

If you can’t stop yourself from chewing on ice as you work to address the cause of your pagophagia, stick to either shaved ice or small and mostly melted pieces. This will do less damage to your teeth than larger chunks or cubes.

If you find yourself chewing on ice throughout the day, your body might be trying to tell you something. Protect your teeth and your health by addressing the cause of your ice cravings.

Takeaways

Pagophagia is an intense craving to chew on ice cubes, ice chips, or even frost. An eating disorder, dry mouth, or low levels of calcium or iron might cause this condition. Pagophagia can be treated, and it should be, before the crunching on ice damages your teeth.

Pagophagia FAQs

Is chewing ice anxiety?

If you’re chewing on ice all the time, it can sometimes be a sign of issues such as stress and anxiety. For some people, chewing ice can be calming, so they do it to feel better. But if you feel like it’s caused by stress and obsessive-compulsive behavior (you can’t easily stop yourself), ask your doctor about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It can help break the habit.

Why do I crave ice while pregnant?

It’s not uncommon for pregnant people to have anemia — an iron deficiency. Anemia is a cause for pagophagia. In addition, some pregnancy cravings can become a form of pica, an eating disorder in which people want to eat things that are not food (including dirt, soap, and ice). This is often a sign of something missing from the diet, such as iron or calcium. It’s best to check with your doctor to rule out vitamin deficiencies.

Is pagophagia a mental disorder?

In some people, the pica pagophagia is a sign of emotional problems, such as stress, an obsessive-compulsive disorder, or a developmental disorder. A more common cause of pagophagia is anemia.

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