system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why is your mouth much more sensitive to cold water after brushing your teeth or chewing mint gum?
gpt
the culprit is a protein called "TRPM8". It's ion channel is the main molecular transducer of cold sensations in your mouth. It can however also be activated by the presence of menthol which is found in mints and tooth paste for that "cool & fresh" feeling. So if you drink cold water after chewing mint gum you'll get the double sensation as the protein is activated by temperature and the menthol molecules.