# Biting down on foil - gahhhh **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 2, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695 "2003-07-02T01:46:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/1 "2003-07-02T01:46:08Z")
I unwittingly bit down on a piece of foil and the feeling scared the crap out of me. I thought I’d pulled a filling out and was even more confused when I pulled silver out of my mouth (but it was in fact the foil). What the hell was that feeling and why does foil have that effect? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/2 "2003-07-02T01:51:02Z")
I belive you basically created a battery, you have two dissimilar metals, and your saliva for electrons to flow through. (But I’m SURE someone else will explain it MUCH better then I just did.) ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/3 "2003-07-02T01:53:20Z")
I’m assuming you have fillings. That feeling was electric current. Two different metals with a slightly acidic liquid between them (your saliva), makes a battery. ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/4 "2003-07-02T02:39:21Z")
Dude. That’s f’ing spooky. And yes, I’ve got plenty o’ fillings. ---
**Author:** ![Panzerfaust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Panzerfaust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panzerfaust)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/5 "2003-07-02T02:45:20Z")
You could power a car! **saramamlana** , the alternative fuel, endorsed by aging, “eco-conscious” celebrities and hippies everywhere! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/6 "2003-07-02T04:10:00Z")
Darn it! Foiled again! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/7 "2003-07-02T04:36:52Z")
Me and Dave Clark are going to take over the world! My dentist will be so proud. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/8 "2003-07-02T05:50:40Z")
yeah… they basically explained it… It’s a reduction-oxidation reaction. and FWIW, the solution doesn’t even have to be acidic, just have ions dissolved in it. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/9 "2003-07-02T07:25:21Z")
Hey!! I have never had a filling in my life, yet this phenomena is no news to me. It may be an electrical reaction, but it has nothing to do with metal fillings…cuz I have none, and I have experienced said phenomena by chewing on aluminum foil. I think it’s a salival/nerve connection within teeth. WAG! ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biting-down-on-foil-gahhhh/185695/10 "2003-07-02T14:00:34Z")
…Fillings… Nothing more than… Fillings…