Can You Blame Tooth Sensitivity for Your Ice Cream Headache?

As the saying goes, we all scream for ice cream. Most of us love this sweet treat, especially on a hot summer day. Unfortunately, ice cream has some of us screaming for a different reason—ice cream headaches. While everyone has experienced an ice cream headache or “brain freeze” at one time or another, ice cream and other cold foods can provide unique challenges for those who have sensitive teeth. Does that mean that tooth sensitivity is the culprit behind ice cream headaches? As your Kansas City family dentist, we have all the answers about these painful conditions. Let’s dig in!

On the topic of sensitive teeth. For starters, let’s discuss what tooth sensitivity is. Also known as “dentin hypersensitivity,” it happens when the more sensitive part of the tooth below the enamel is exposed. This could be because gums have receded or because the enamel of the tooth has worn away. Many who suffer from tooth sensitivity experience uncomfortable sensations when eating cold foods, but this discomfort seems to be unrelated to the dreaded ice cream headache.

What is an ice cream headache? If you’ve never experienced one of these so-called “brain freezes,” then you’re lucky. What you may not know is that the ice cream headache actually has a scientific name: sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. An ice cream headache is a sharp and sudden headache that often accompanies consuming cold foods or beverages, especially too quickly. As you might be able to guess from that mouthful of a scientific name, it’s related to the sphenopalatine ganglion, nerve cells linked to the trigeminal nerve, which is what usually activates when you have a headache.

What causes ice cream headaches? According to a team of researchers at the Mayo Clinic and Harvard Medical School, these uncomfortable headaches are triggered by cold foods or beverages moving across the roof of your mouth, which causes the blood vessels in that part of your body to constrict rapidly. This is the source of the sudden, piercing “brain freeze” sensation. Researchers also found that those who suffer from migraine headaches are more susceptible to the ice cream kind, too, and experience more extreme effects. How do you avoid a “brain freeze?” Your best bet is to enjoy ice cream and other cold treats slowly and in small bites.

But cold foods are a trigger for those with sensitive teeth, right? Anyone who has ever experienced dentin hypersensitivity knows that frozen treats such as ice cream or even cold drinks can have some jarring and extremely uncomfortable consequences. However, the jolt of pain or sensitivity that sufferers experience is a different sensation altogether from the dreaded ice cream headache, which is typically felt in the cranium, not the teeth.

What can you do if you do suffer from tooth sensitivity? While there may not be much you can do about ice cream headaches besides enjoying your cold treats carefully, there are ways to treat tooth sensitivity. Start by talking to your family dentist. A dentist will likely recommend daily brushing (as well as a possible switch to toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth), flossing, a good diet, and regular visits for dental checkups. Tooth sensitivity is often an indicator of an underlying cause, and we can diagnose and help to address that, too.

At Blacker Family Dental in Kansas City, MO, we specialize in helping patients with all kinds of dental solutions, from family dentistry and cosmetic dentistry to dental implants and Invisalign treatments for patients of all ages. If you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity or just have questions, call (816) 763-8400 or click here to schedule an appointment.