ELI5 Why does toothpaste and mouthwash give that intense cold and sometimes spicy feeling in your mouth, when it isn’t actually cold or spicy?

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ELI5 Why does toothpaste and mouthwash give that intense cold and sometimes spicy feeling in your mouth, when it isn’t actually cold or spicy?

In: Chemistry

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The sensors in your skin and mouth that detect heat and cold are also set off by the chemicals in things like mint and peppers, purely by a quirk of nature.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The neurons that are sensitive to cold are also triggered by the presence of the flavour compound menthol.

So a drop of menthol mouthwash on your tongue sends basically the same message to your brain as a drop of cold water would.