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What is Brain Freeze?

Headaches and neck pain

You’ve just bought a nice refreshing ice cream cone on a hot day. You’re sitting down on a park bench, enjoying the flavorful cold sensation in your mouth when…OUCH! That sharp pain in your head signals that you’re a victim of the dreaded “brain freeze,” also known as an ice cream headache.

What causes brain freeze? Sometimes, when you eat something very cold and it comes in contact with the center of the roof of your mouth, the cold temperature activates certain nerves. These nerves cause the blood vessels in the brain to swell in order to prevent the loss of body heat, causing the acute pain that many experience. The pain rarely lasts for more than 10-20 seconds, although often it seems much longer!

How can you avoid brain freeze? Well, for starters, you can keep the cold food away from the roof of your mouth! If you experience brain freeze – you need to warm up the roof of your mouth quickly. You can do that by touching the roof of your mouth with the underside of your tongue, which is warmer than the top of your tongue. Or, you can drink a hot or warm beverage – or even water – that is room temperature! You can also press your thumb to the roof of your mouth!

Sometimes brain freeze results from eating cold food very quickly or from taking bites that are too big! So slow down and savor that ice cream cone! Brain freeze won’t kill you, but it sure can make you uncomfortable!

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Dr. Matt Asks some important questions of interest to Cincinnati residents - Chiropractor Cincinnati Dr. Matt Asks...

Can someone who has had back surgery receive chiropractic care?
Yes. Rest assured that we will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. However, what we find is that surgical interventions will often produce spinal instability above or below the involved level. This is will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
What's the difference between a "good" drug and a "bad" drug?
As a chiropractor, I see the use of many drugs (legal or illegal) as merely symptom treating. Worse, virtually every drug produces unwanted effects. The effects of chiropractic are largely positive effects. If you're a Cincinnati parent, consider carefully before giving your child a cough medication, cold remedy or pain reliever so this sort of question doesn't arise in the first place.