You know the sharp, frigid headache you get when a brain freeze rushes to your head from taking a large bite of cold, delicious ice cream. A brain freeze, which is also dubbed an ice cream headache by some, is your body’s way of protecting your brain from the cold dessert you’ve eaten, but it’s uncomfortable. Luckily, there are ways to halt a brain freeze, so read on to learn how. 

How to Stop a Brain Freeze 

What Is a Brain Freeze?

The scientific name for brain freeze is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. Your arteries contract and dilate to pump more blood to the area. Then your brain sends out pain signals to attempt to make you stop eating your ice cream or sipping your milkshake too quickly. 

Why Does It Happen?

When you eat a frozen dessert like ice cream too quickly, the sensitive nerves on your tongue don’t have time to prepare for the drastically freezing temperatures. Too much exposure to the cold causes your nerves to overreact, and the blood vessels swell to push more blood to the area and protect your brain from heat loss damage. 

How Can You Stop Them? 

There are several easy ways to block a brain freeze. Take a drink of a warm beverage to warm up your mouth, or push your thumb against the roof of your mouth. Try pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth for a few seconds, or tilt your head back until the ache goes away. 

If you’re hungry for creamy, house-made, decadent ice cream that is worth the risk of a brain freeze, visit Tropilicious Ice Cream Shop in Honolulu, HI. Locally owned and operated, they make their flavors in small batches to ensure delicious, creamy perfection. Call them at (808) 847-1750, check out the website, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook for new flavors and updates.