Menthol feels cool on the tongue by activating cold-sensitive receptors TRPM8
Menthol elicits a cooling sensation by specifically binding to and activating the cold-sensitive transient receptor potential channel TRPM8.
The retrieved papers consistently confirm that menthol acts as an agonist for the cold-sensing receptor TRPM8, which is responsible for mediating the perception of cooling and cold temperatures in sensory tissues.
Moayedi Y, Michlig S, Park M, Koch A, Lumpkin EA. Localization of TRP Channels in Healthy Oral Mucosa from Human Donors.. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1523/eneuro.0328-21.2022
Paper [4] notes that TRPM8 immunoreactivity is found in sensory subpopulations of the oral mucosa, consistent with its role in thermal and chemical sensing.
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Li Y, Song Y, Yang X, Zhu H, Yu H, Kong Y. TRPM8-driven thermogenesis by menthol: mechanisms of cold injury prevention.. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13105-025-01120-8
Paper [7] examines menthol's action on the cold-sensing receptor TRPM8 to induce thermogenesis and cold tolerance.
Choi KY, Lin X, Cheng Y, Julius D. Structural energetics of cold sensitivity.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10276-2
Paper [8] explicitly states that the menthol receptor TRPM8 is activated by cooling agents and lower temperatures.
Alateeq FA. Case Report: Resolution of Insomnia in a 32-Year-Old Male with Generalized Anxiety Disorder Following Discontinuation of Mint-Flavored Toothpaste.. 2026. https://doi.org/10.2147/imcrj.s592710
Paper [10] discusses how menthol activates TRPM8 receptors to influence acute sensory and arousal responses.
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