Why Do You Get 'Brain Freeze' When Eating Ice Cream?

The Squeeze

When you eat ice cream too fast, the cold touches the roof of your mouth. This sends a signal to your brain that says it is freezing up there! Your body tries to warm things back up by pumping more blood to the area.

Why It Hurts

The blood vessels act like tiny hoses. They get very tight at first and then suddenly expand. This rapid change squeezes nearby nerves, which send a sharp pain signal right to your forehead. It feels like a cramp inside your head.

How to Fix It

Pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth helps warm that spot up quickly. You can also eat slower to keep the cold from hitting so hard.

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Examples

A child shoves a spoonful of ice cream into their mouth and suddenly grabs their forehead.
Someone drinks an icy smoothie too quickly and gets that sharp zap behind their eyes.
You press your tongue on the roof of your mouth to make the pain go away.

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Categories: Biology · neurology· thermoregulation· cephalic pain· ice cream headache