Why mint?

I was kickin’ this question around in chat a few nights ago, and now I have to ask the masses…

Why is “mint” the default flavor for toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, “breath fresheners”, and so on? I mean, you don’t really encounter mint in many places other than those that are intended to make your mouth feel clean (mint jelly on lamb is the only one that springs to mind)… why not lemon, or cinnamon, or bubblegum? Does mint flavor perhaps last longer than others, giving a more enduring feeling of clean, or is it that sensation of “minty coolness”, or what? And who was that first pioneer who decided that mint flavor should be used in our dentifrices?

My personal WAG is that it is largely a marketing thing. Someone found people liked the scent and/or feel it left in their mouth (slight cooling/ numbing effect) and focus groups pushed them in that direction. I have seen a few cinammon (sp?) flavored pastes, but the fact there are so few must tell you it’s not as big of a seller.

Of course, that cooling effect probably does lead one to believe their mouth is somehow more clean that say, those other flavors you mentioned that might be more neutral, and hence, may actually make one feel they are just masking some odor. Based on the fact that most bubblegum flavorings wear out very quickly in the brands I’ve tried, I’m inclined to think this flavor may also not be as long lasting as you suggested.

I dont know about everyone else but after I use my Cool Mint Listerine™ my mouth does feel cleener.

OTOH, this may have to do with years of advertising propagnada.

I am still waiting for a toothpaste that doesnt kill the taste of orange juice in the mornings. If we can split the atom surley this is not an unreasonable request from toothpaste manufacturers’.

cleener propognada

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I think it is because all fruit flavors are for little kids (usually), and mint falvors are more “grown up”. Persoanlly, I would rather use mint or cinnamon than a fruit flavor.

That clean feeling is often the result of camphor or menthol, which are themselves reminicent of mint (esp. methol), additionally, those flavors (camphor, menthol) don’t mix well with, say, cherry (it’d take like cough syrup.)

Slight hijack. I was intrigued to find out that when you smoke Menthol, you are, in effect, freebasing peppermint.
end Hijack.

Because it goes so well with green. :smiley:

Not all toothpastes are mint-flavored. Tom’s of Maine sells fennel-flavored toothpaste, as well as others that blend mint with other flavors (like cinnamon or ginger).

My friend Dave hailed from North Judson, Indiana. The low-lying muck lands there are perfect for growing mint. The mint growers gather the plants in huge wire screen wagons to take them for processing. Afterward, the spent leaves are spread on the mint fields as fertilizer for next year’s crop. Dave says the aroma from the fields is so overpowering, it’s hard to stay on a motorcycle.

I think because mint gives a sensation of “cool.” Since bad breath tends to be thought of as “hot,” minty-“cool” becomes the desired sensation (from a marketing standpoint, at least) for breath-enhancing products.

A WAG, but I think this may actually be the reason, in addition to the “cool” explanation. Think about it – if they came out with peanut butter-flavored toothpaste, you’d feel like you’d just eaten peanut butter – not a very “clean” feeling. The key is to have something that is not commonly eaten, or you’d associate the toothpaste with having an unclean mouth.

Also mint has natural antibacterial properties.

According to “The Secret House,” the answer is simple.

Oil of Peppermint is an exceptionally strong flavoring agent. Since toothpaste contains some rather unpleasant tasting chemicals (soaps and detergents, for instance), they needed something that would mask the other flavors, especially in the beginning.

As toothpaste development advanced, other flavoring agents became possible, but by then people were used to peppermint.

I have to second this (along with the mint being anti-bacterial). I’ve tried a couple toothpastes aimed at kids (a bubblegum and a sour apple flavored brand) and while it may get your teeth just as clean, it made your mouth taste disgusting and you felt like you had to re-brush with “normal” toothpaste.