One of the study's authors, FAGD, Betty Shynett of DDS, explained that the study focused on pica, a dysfunctional diet described as "hunger or craving for non-food stuff." It involves a person's duration of oral hygiene and / or ingestion of non-nutritive substances for at least one month at a time considered to be unfit for developmental age. These non-nutritive substances include most things that can be considered nasty, such as coal, laundry starches and gypsum, but also most of the substances that are gnawed, such as pencil eraser, ice and nails. Pica itself is thought to be associated with mineral deficiencies, cultural practices, depression, stress and anxiety.
A common cause of the disease is during pregnancy, explained DDS spokesman Carolyn Taggart-Burns. She said: "Pregnant women are more susceptible to iron deficiency, which increases the chances and desires of non-nutritive substances."
Pica is not the only eating disorder associated with tooth erosion, wear and tooth loss; bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa are also the culprits. However, unlike bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa, pica has not been reported by the mass media and there is little public knowledge of this particular type of eating disorder. In addition, the symptoms associated with eating disorders are rare and difficult to diagnose. However, management of eating disorders only includes behavioral and dietary changes.
