Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Elaes on 10/11/2007 12:09:46

Title: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: Elaes on 10/11/2007 12:09:46
This has been puzzling me for a long time and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about why it happens.

I have braces on my teeth (they are fairly ordinary as far as I now and made of metal although I'm not sure which). One day I was fiddling with a paperclip and I put the end of it my mouth. I suddenly got a huge surprise and took it out - I could taste the paperclip very strongly. Puzzled I experimented further. I discovered that if I touched the end of the paperclip onto my tongue, I couldn't taste anything unusual about the paperclip - it tasted pretty much of nothing. If however I touched the paperclip onto my braces and my tongue at the same time I got such a strong metallic taste it almost made my eyes water!

It was such a weird experience that I have been confused about for ages. I have since noticed that the same thing happens with the small silver balls people sometimes use as cake decorations.

Does anyone know why this happens???
Title: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: lyner on 10/11/2007 18:21:11
Two different metals and a electrolyte (your spit) makes a electrolytic cell - a battery.
Silver foil on metal fillings makes you jump, the voltage is so high.
Title: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: lightarrow on 10/11/2007 18:28:45
This has been puzzling me for a long time and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about why it happens.

I have braces on my teeth (they are fairly ordinary as far as I now and made of metal although I'm not sure which). One day I was fiddling with a paperclip and I put the end of it my mouth. I suddenly got a huge surprise and took it out - I could taste the paperclip very strongly. Puzzled I experimented further. I discovered that if I touched the end of the paperclip onto my tongue, I couldn't taste anything unusual about the paperclip - it tasted pretty much of nothing. If however I touched the paperclip onto my braces and my tongue at the same time I got such a strong metallic taste it almost made my eyes water!

It was such a weird experience that I have been confused about for ages. I have since noticed that the same thing happens with the small silver balls people sometimes use as cake decorations.

Does anyone know why this happens???
Now you have discovered how dead frogs "felt themselves" when Luigi Galvani experimented on them!  [;)]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Galvani
Title: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: neilep on 10/11/2007 19:34:02
Brrrrrrrrrrrrr !!..Once I did have a piece of food with a little bit of foil still on it and OH MY ..when it touched a filling !!!!.....I thought my head was going to explode !!...I think it did in fact make my eyes water !!
Title: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: Karen W. on 11/11/2007 00:08:32
I have had that exact same thing happen... it is horrible!    and felt awful!
Title: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: Elaes on 11/11/2007 12:15:20
Well at least its not just me then!
Title: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: kdlynn on 11/11/2007 15:33:49
neil you have to take the food out of the wrapper before woveat it! silly sheep
Title: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: lyner on 11/11/2007 18:39:58
Loves his food - this boy!
Title: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: Karen W. on 12/11/2007 00:56:55
YEPPEROO! I think your right!
Title: Re: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: Clovenhearts on 16/10/2012 00:54:08
Same thing happened with me, but i just thought it tasted good.
Title: Re: A strange question about braces and paperclips...
Post by: Karen W. on 16/10/2012 06:36:17
I love your screen name Clovenhearts! SO SWEET .....