5. There are receptors found in our mouth and especially on the tongue to let us taste the flavor and to feel the temperature of the food. They are of two types: Chemo-receptors and Thermo-receptors.
6. How can we taste freshness in our mouth ? 1- The chemo-receptors are parts of the sensory neurons that are able to bind to the chemical particles of the food and create a nervous message to be transmitted to the brain to feel the food taste. 2- The thermo-receptors are parts of other sensory neurons that are able to create a nervous message when they are exposed to a change in the temperature of food then this nervous message is transmitted to the brain to realize the temperature of food. The thermo-receptors receptors are also of two types: a- If the receptors responsible for the cold sensation are activated, we feel the freshness in our mouth or the cold sensation. b- If the receptors responsible for the hot sensation , we feel the chilly flavor or hotness in our mouth.
7. Where does freshness / cold sensation occur in the mouth ? Freshness occur, not only on the tongue but in the roof of the mouth and at the back of the throat. Taste buds are thought to be located in concentrated areas on the tongue.
8. How does our mouth detect the temperature of food? We feel temperature with two different sets of nerve cells: One set called TRP-V1 will detect increases in temperature and the other set is called TRP-M8 that will detect decreases. 1- When the temperature decreases the TRP-M8 neurons will open sodium gates, allowing positive sodium ions to move into the cell and potassium to flow out, this creates a voltage which sends a nervous signal along the thin tail of the nerve cell towards your brain. This nervous message tells the brain to feel cold in that specific part of the mouth. 2- Similarly when the TRP-V1 cells heat up they also send a signal. But this time the nervous message reach the brain to tell it to feel hotness in that specific part o the mouth.
9. Why does Mint cause mouth freshness? It was discovered that Mint contains Menthol which is a chemical substance that is able to act on the cold temperature receptors of the mouth opening them and initiating a nervous message to be transmitted to the brain just like any decrease in the mouth temperature will do. So it doesn’t need to have a decrease in the temperature of the mouth to feel the cold sensation, since Menthol chemical structure is able to FOOL the brain by acting on the TRP-M8 cold temperature receptors.
10. The Benefits of Clever Menthol in Certain Commercial Products Because they provide a cold sensation , Menthol products are used in many fields: Relaxing the muscles that line your digestive tract, thereby promoting less gas production and better overall digestion. Providing symptomatic relief for painful inflammatory states like arthritis, chronic tendinitis, and acute sprains and strains. Shrinking or dissolving gallstones, especially when used in combination with a few other compounds called terpenes (borneol, camphene, pinene, and cineole). Combating the proliferation of viruses, most notably, the herpes simplex virus. It is useful to illness and bad mouth smell, so who has bad mouth smell and who is sick with the diseases mentioned above.