[neilep (OP)]

Hello Everybody,

I just had a mint...here, smell my breath...it's lovely isn't it ?...but I noticed, as I'm sure we all have, that when I breathe in now through my oral cavity, my mouth and back of my throat appear cold as the air rushes over...same happens when air is breathed in through my happy nostrils but not as much......why does it feel cold ?..is it actually colder ?..what does minty do ?...is it the opposite effect to eating chillis and other Sun temperature orientated products ?

Do you think that's why mints are served after Indian meals ?

Your glacial answers of an inclement nature to this temperature type query is greatly appreciated.

ta

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[NakedScientist]

We have discussed this on the radio show.

The reason is that menthol (the minty ingredient) sensitises the nerve fibres that signal 'cold' sensation in the mouth. So when you breathe in, room air 'feels' colder than normal because the nerve fibres respond more strongly at that temperature than they would normally, fooling the brain into thinking your mouth is colder than it really is.

Here's an article about the physiology of why chilli tastes hot and why mints taste cold :

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/article/dalyacolumn5.htm

And here's a link to the original show in which this was discussed as an 'ask the naked scientists' item - scroll down the page for the text version, or listen to the audio :

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/Shows/2002.05.19.htm

TNS

[neilep (OP)]

Thanks Chris...ooops, silly me for not noticing the articles, sometimes when I'm just sitting here, a question pops in and I ask away....thanks for the links.

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'

[Monox D. I-Fly]

Am I the only one who keeps wondering why both chili and mint taste spicy?

[chris]

I linked to this above, but it does explain a lot of the science behind this phenomenon:

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/features/does-hot-mint-still-taste-cold

[Danne]

Menthol also makes your other cavities feel cold or even burn in an "icy" sensation.
I noticed this when I put pure menthol crystals to inhale hot vapor when I've got a runny nose (works like a charm to "unplug" it).

However, if you wash your hands poorly n then go to the shower - problems may happen. For example you touch yourself in private places where you have thinner skin (your glans or anus, eyes) it starts burning like crazy. I think it could even cause damage if you wont wash it off fast enough.