Why do mints make your mouth feel cold?

Question

Why do mints make your mouth feel cold? And specifically, why does your mouth feel so cold if you eat a few mints and then drink a glass of cold water afterwards?

Answer 1

Mints (and spicy foods for that matter) activate thermoreceptors in the mouth. This is exactly what you think it means; they literally will bind to "temperature" receptors and will cause depolarization of the respective sensory neuron. This will then cause the tingling and cool sensation that we usually associate with ice. On the other hand, eat buffalo wings and your mouth is on fire. Same concept applies.