Why do we get brain freeze?
Brain freeze happens when something very cold touches the roof of your mouth, causing blood vessels there to rapidly constrict and then widen. Nerves interpret this as a sudden headache in the forehead.
The medical name for brain freeze is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia. When ice cream or a cold drink touches the palate, nearby blood vessels quickly narrow and then expand to warm the area. These changes are detected by the trigeminal nerve, which also carries sensations from the face and forehead, so the pain is felt in the head.
Brain freeze usually comes on within seconds and lasts less than a minute. It is more likely when cold food or drink is consumed quickly. Interestingly, people who suffer from migraines may be more prone to brain freeze.
How to stop it
To ease brain freeze, press your tongue or thumb against the roof of your mouth, drink something warm or room temperature, or simply stop eating the cold food for a moment. Eating cold treats slowly helps prevent it.
Did You Know?
Brain freeze is sometimes called an ice cream headache, and it does not cause any harm to the brain.
This answer is general information, not medical advice. For a personal health question, talk to a doctor.