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Are you tired of dealing with a toothache? You’ve probably tried everything to stop the pain, from OTC meds to home remedies.
But have you ever thought of eating ice cream to ease the pain? Weird, I know, but people have been doing it for years!
It’s based on the theory that the cold temperature of the ice cream numbs the nerves in your mouth and helps with the discomfort. But does it work?
We’ll explore the science behind it and find out if ice cream is an excellent way to soothe a toothache.
The answer is definitely NO. You should avoid ice cream or anything cold if you have a toothache.
Otherwise, toothache might become severe and even unbearable. And you might rush to the dentist to relieve this acute pain.
Ice cream will not relieve toothache; rather, it will aggravate it. It is a misconception that people consume ice cream to treat toothache.
It might be because most dentists recommend eating something cold after numerous dental operations such as tooth extraction.
What does ice cream do to teeth?
Who doesn’t love a sweet, creamy scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day? But have you ever thought about the effects it may be having on your teeth?
As a dental expert, I’m here to explain the impact it can have. First off, ice cream is packed with sugar.
When we eat sugary foods, bacteria in our mouths feed on the sugar and create acids that can erode our tooth enamel.
The good news is that some lower-sugar and even sugar-free ice cream options are out there!
But if your teeth are sensitive and you want ice cream, be prepared for an intense toothache because ice cream intake might induce dental sensitivity and tooth pain.
According to Wikipedia, odontoblast is a kind of cell found on the surface of the tooth pulp. It is responsible for sensing cold.
TRPC5 is a gene discovered lately by a team of researchers. This gene is primarily responsible for fear, anxiety, seizures, and cold sensitivity.
When ice cream comes in contact with your teeth, TRPC5 recognizes it and sends signals to your brain via odontoblast, indicating that you are eating ice cream and how cold it is.
The strength of the signals and the sensitivity to discomfort depend on how cold the thing is. Plus, it can result in brain freeze, a kind of headache. I’ll explain brain freeze at the end of this article.
Does ice cream help with cavities?
Eating ice cream can be challenging if you have a bad cavity and an aching tooth. You might be tempted to enjoy the sweet treat, but the pain can be too much.
This can be incredibly challenging during the summer since ice cream is usually a go-to dessert.
The coldness of the ice cream can make your tooth hurt even more, and the sugar can worsen any cavities.
Still, If you’re eating ice cream with a deep cavity and an inflamed tooth, the nerves are already overloaded with pain impulses.
So, when ice cream comes into contact with an inflamed tooth, TRPC5 sends a pain signal via the odontoblast nerve, causing a severe toothache.
TRPC5 makes cells more energized and active following cold sensitivity, according to The Harvard Gazette.
That is the key reason because cells can carry more signals to the brain when they are highly active.
Is ice cream good for gums?
The answer is NO. Ice cream is bad for your gums and teeth. It is prohibited, particularly if you have a gum infection or bleeding gums.
Almost all ice creams are sweet or sugary in flavor. When you eat ice cream, some of its sugary components remain on your teeth. Bacteria love to eat sugar and create acids in the enamel.
This acid attacks the enamel and eats it away, causing tooth decay, cavities, and gum problems such as inflammation or bleeding.
On the other hand, ice cream might be beneficial at times. It can help with swollen gums, wisdom or tooth pain, and sore mouth areas.
Ice cream immediately numbs the damaged area and relieves toothache. However, it only works for a short time.
That is why most dentists recommend eating ice cream after some dental procedures. It can tighten blood vessels, decrease blood flow to the patient’s muscles, and relax them.
Do teeth ache 20 minutes after eating ice cream?
Yes, the soreness may occur after 20 or 30 minutes if your teeth are sensitive or have a tooth infection. It is commonly asked why my teeth hurt after eating ice cream.
You may not feel immediate toothache after eating ice cream. Ice cream, as previously said, temporarily numbs and shrinks blood vessels. For a short period, any sensation will stop.
However, after 20 or 30 minutes, blood vessels return to normal, and you begin to experience a toothache or a burning sensation.
The water in the cell also begins to freeze, forming sharp ice crystals that harm the structure of adjacent cells.
You feel a burning sensation due to the severe cold of ice cream, which damages your oral cells. The cell freezing water and restoration appear to be a burning sensation as if you were swallowing fire.
Why does my jaw hurt when I eat ice cream?
First and foremost, you must understand the basic structure of your mouth. It will be simple for me to explain. All your teeth are related to your jaw, which is connected to your skull. TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) is the joint that links the jaw to the skull.
The trigeminal nerve is the most bigger nerve in your face, having three branches. This can capture all signals and transmit them to the brain.
Of course, eating ice cream with an infected tooth will lead to unbearable toothache. Because of the pain traveling through the Mandibular nerve, Your jaw may appear to be in severe pain. Since the mandibular is responsible for sensations in the lower jaw, including the lips, gums, jaw, etc.
The second potential cause of jaw pain is TMJ disorder. Ice cream can increase the likelihood of TMJ disorder because it puts extra pressure on the jaw muscles and causes blood vessels to constrict.
How to eat ice cream with sensitive teeth?
If you have sensitive teeth, I do not recommend eating ice cream. You may experience intense throbbing pain that comes and goes.
But if you insist on eating ice cream, lick it rather than take a bite. Thus, you won’t experience any sensitivity or toothache while enjoying the ice cream.
Second, try spoonful eating and putting ice cream on your tongue. Ice cream is safe to eat if it doesn’t touch your teeth directly. Ice cream may be consumed while experiencing sensitivity.
Keep in mind that ice cream should be low in sugar or sugar-free. This ice cream is better for your teeth than regular ice cream.
If you don’t have sugar-free ice cream alternatives, choose something with a lower sugar level, such as ice cream with less chocolate syrup or caramel.
Should I brush immediately after eating ice cream?
According to Columbia University Irving Medical Center, brushing right after eating something can damage the outer layer of the tooth (Enamel).
Researchers say you should wait at least 20 to 30 minutes after eating. So, after eating ice cream, you should wait.
We all know that our mouth muscles and blood vessels contract after eating ice cream. So it is preferable to wait till muscles and blood return to normal.
Second, you should allow some time for saliva to remineralize and clean your teeth. Saliva has the ability to neutralize acids and produce a protective film on tooth surfaces. It promotes remineralization by supplying calcium, phosphate, and fluoride to the enamel and dentin.
Why does the roof of my mouth hurt after eating ice cream?
Brain freeze is sometimes called an “ice cream headache.” It is a common and generally harmless condition caused by consuming cold foods or beverages.
It’s marked by a sharp pain in the roof of the mouth and might even come with a throbbing headache.
It happens when the blood vessels in the head rapidly constrict and dilate, usually resolving within a few seconds.
To avoid brain freeze, eat cold items slowly, warm up your mouth beforehand, press your tongue against the roof of your mouth, and breathe through your nose.
If the pain persists, it could indicate an underlying medical condition, so speaking to your dentist is essential. To reduce the severity of brain freeze, sip on warm drinks and wait it out.
