Stop the Ouch! Brain Freeze Explained
Spring has well and truly landed in Sydney and there's a lot to look forward to, including all of those delicious warm weather treats you've been missing all winter long...
The Cause of 'Brain Freeze' and How To Get Rid of It!
Spring has well and truly landed in Sydney and there's a lot to look forward to, including all of those delicious warm weather treats you've been missing all winter long. Once the weather begins to warm up most of us can be easily tempted by a nice big ice cream cone, a big bowl of frozen yogurt or a long, tall, cool milkshake. And a cold soft-drink - or the occasional very cold beer or frozen frothy cocktail - is a must when the sun comes back out to play.
However wonderful all of these treats are however they can have a rather painful downside; brain freeze. That terrible feeling when, for a minute or so, your icy indulgence results in a headache so intense that it really does feel like your brain froze. But what is it that causes this pain and what can you do to prevent it?
What Causes Brain Freeze in the First Place?
Brain freeze - that does, by the way, have a real scientific name, sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia - is, in very basic terms, a reaction between the blood vessels in the roof of your mouth and your brain. You see your mouth is mouth is highly vascularised, meaning that there are an awful lot of blood vessels at work in there. Among them, at the back of the throat, are two very important ones; the internal carotid artery, which is what gets blood to your brain, and the anterior cerebral artery, which sits right where your brain tissue starts.
So, basically, it's an area that the brain feels it is very important to protect. Introduce a sudden rush of cold and sometimes the brain literally thinks you are going to freeze to death. As a protective measure those arteries then contract very quickly, causing that sudden, stabbing pain that is so very unpleasant. Within a minute or so the brain does realise its mistake and everything goes back to normal, but boy does it hurt until then.
Effective Ways to Stop Brain Freeze
There are several things you can try in order to save yourself from unnecessary suffering when enjoying cold treats:
Eat or drink cold items slowly. Yes that frozen margarita looks amazing but you don't have to guzzle it all down in three gulps.
Take smaller bites/sips and let the food/drink warm a little in your mouth before you swallow it.
Nix the straw. Yes, your milkshake came with a stripy straw that's very cute and stuff but where possible avoid using it. Drinking an ice cold milkshake through a straw delivers the cold right to the back of your throat instantly, just where you don't want it to go.
If you do find yourself in the throes of a brain freeze, press your tongue against the roof of your mouth to warm things back up more quickly.
Another way to speed up your 'recovery' from a brain freeze is to cup your hands over your nose and mouth and breathe into the 'cup', the same way as you might do on a very cold morning.
Give up all frozen drinks, treats and desserts and drink lattes and eat beef stew all spring and summer long (just kidding, we know that's a bit nuts)
The #EmergencyDentist Says:
Bring on the good weather and the brain freezes! We recommend TIP 4.
What You Need to Know About Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
If you suffer from facial pain, jaw pain, migraines or even the occasional 'jaw lock’ then you may have had it suggested to you that you are suffering from TMJ...
TMD 101: What You Need to Know About Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
If you suffer from facial pain, jaw pain, migraines or even the occasional 'jaw lock’ then you may have had it suggested to you that you are suffering from TMJ. Or TMD. But the question is which one might it be and what are these conditions anyway?
MJ vs. TMD - Which is Correct?
When various people discuss the symptoms we just described above, they might use the terms TMJ and TMD interchangeably. In fact that happens quite often, but it's actually a mistake, as they are two different things.
TMJ is the abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone of the skull and it's located right in front of your ear. TMD on the other hand, stands for temporomandibular joint disorder, a blanket term for the problems with the joint a person might develop. So TMD is the correct term, but if you are suffering then the chances are that you really don't care too much about all of this, you just want to know why you are in pain and how to make it stop!
TMD Causes and Symptoms
TMD symptoms vary from person to person, as does their severity. Some of them - facial pain, pain when 'opening up wide', a 'tired' feeling in your face and especially a jaw that 'locks - are all symptoms that can be fairly easily recognised as TMD. Others -like toothaches, headaches, facial swelling, dizziness and hearing problems - can have a number of other causes as well, so are not immediately connected to TMD .
If you are diagnosed with TMD, just what might have caused it? Traumatic injury can do it, as can a habit of grinding your teeth. In some, osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may be at work and stress can even be a trigger for TMD as those who are 'stressed out' do develop a tendency to over-tighten their facial and jaw muscles and clench their teeth, putting undue pressure on the temporomandibular joint.
Treating TMD
The obvious first step in the successful treatment of TMD for anyone is a proper diagnosis. While you may have diagnosed yourself while consulting with Dr. Google, only a dentist familiar with TMD can tell you for sure.
Once a diagnosis is made, many experts prefer to follow a conservative course of treatment initially. This is because after a patient has been educated about some simple habit and lifestyle changes - things like avoiding very hard foods, relieving pain with icepacks, changing sleeping habits etc. - the condition improves on its own. However, for those not so lucky other treatments, including medications, splints, acupuncture and even surgery, are indicated.
The Locked Jaw Emergency
For most people who suffer from TMD is painful, it’s annoying and can be rather limiting, but they can, for the most part, live with the problem as their treatments begin to take effect. However, if their TMD leads to a locked jaw it's a bit of a different story. It's very scary when you just can't open your mouth and it's hugely uncomfortable - and often painful - too. In this situation waiting until Monday, or even until the morning, to get help really isn't an option. This is one of those times when it's best to seek immediate care from an emergency dentist who will be able to start working on 'unlocking' that troublesome jaw right away.
The #EmergencyDentist Says
Whether you have already been diagnosed with TMD or you just suspect that it may be causing your symptoms, a locked jaw is a problem that needs to be addressed right away, even if a less than helpful pal thinks it's rather funny (or cool) that you suddenly can't even utter a word!
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Sudden Tooth Pain: The Complete List of Causes & Treatments
Brain Freeze! We are all prone to occasional aches and pains that any kind of tooth pain can be particularly bothersome...
Diagnosing What's Causing It.. And Making it Stop!
Brain Freeze! We are all prone to occasional aches and pains, but it's fair to say, we think, that any kind of tooth pain can be particularly bothersome (to say the least.) Like a headache that just won't go away, tooth pain can be truly miserable and the problem's only made worse by the fact that much of the time you can't even be sure why you are in pain or how to begin treat it.
There are, in fact, all kinds of reasons that a tooth (or teeth) may start giving you gip, but these are the ones most commonly seen at Emergency Dentist Sydney:
Pain after Eating or Drinking Very Cold - of Very Hot - Foods
This can be the kind of sharp pain that really knocks you for six, if only for a minute or so. But it keeps happening and all the joy of eating an ice cream or downing a morning cup of Joe is fading fast.
The problem here is often is what the toothpaste ads often refer to as 'sensitive teeth'. There can be all kinds of causes; a slightly exposed nerve, a forming cavity, weakened tooth enamel or gum damage of some kind. In the short term try switching to a softer toothbrush and trying one of the toothpastes made to help 'desensitise' teeth. If the problem is a long term one however make a not to book a dentist's appointment to discuss a better solution.
Pain When Eating or Drinking Hot and Cold Foods After Dental Work
This particular issue is not unusual, especially if you have had a root canal or a filling recently. It's a temporary sensitivity that should disappear in a few days as things begin to heal up properly. In the meantime aspirin can help and following the dentist's post treatment care instructions is a must. However, if the pain persists for longer than expected, or gets worse rather than improving, you should contact your dentist right away.
Pain When Biting on Food
Eating regular, everyday foods should never be painful. And when and if it is, the chances are good that there is a problem that needs to be addressed and probably as soon as possible. The issue may be a cracked tooth, a loose filling, a cavity or, well, it could be a number of things. In this situation make a dentist's appointment as soon as possible so that the cause of the pain can be diagnosed and treated quickly, before any further damage occurs.
Aching Pressure on Upper Teeth/Sinus Area
This one is hard to even begin to self-diagnose as pain from infected sinuses can feel like terrible upper back tooth pain and vice versa. This is because there are a bunch of shared nerves back there, so really only a doctor's visit or a trip to the dentist can determine the true cause. Whatever you do though, wherever you go first, don't wait, because this is a horrible, nagging pain that very rarely goes away on its own.
Swollen, Painful, Inflamed Gums
Gum disease is all too common and if it's not addressed early then 'simple' gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, a condition in which the gums and even the bone that holds the teeth in place can be severely weakened. Often painful, swollen gums are a sign of infection, something that needs to be treated as soon as possible, not only to potentially save a tooth or two but to prevent the spread of infection through the rest of your body.
The #EmergencyDentist Says:
'Oh it's only a toothache'. Not. Tooth pain sucks. Pure and simple. It sucks even more if it strikes outside of 'business hours'. But you don't have to wait it out like a trooper just to try and be big and brave. The Emergency Dentist Sydney can help you anytime time any day when you need us.
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