1y ago

What causes that saliva smell that you get in your mouth after breathing a lot in freezing weather?

In a similar vein, sometimes my breath feels sort of 'milky', even though I haven't eaten any dairy products. What could that be?

Edit: Apparently this is not normal??
Try this experiment to see if you get the taste as well:
Next time it's freezing outside, sprint for a bit so that you're left taking deep breaths in the cold air by the end of it. That's when I get the taste. My saliva also feels a bit thicker, probably due to the cold air.

34 comments

I can't relate to either of these experiences but I am unreasonably invested in the answer.
- This. Exactly this. I'm dying to know.

You might be dying. Idk

How strong is the weed you're smoking?
- Seven.
- I don't...

I'm Canadian and I've inhaled my fair share of cold air. I have never heard of such a thing before.

Uhh... What?

Halitosis
- No thats cell division. Youre thinking of asbestosis.

I’ve never experienced that. Breathing in freezing weather smells like freezing weather. Dry, crispy, and icy. My saliva smells nothing like that.
I suspect that you have a sinus or oral condition. Perhaps you might speak to a doctor about that?

Can't say I've experienced this and I'm a Canadian.
I've found it interesting when I go back inside and I can feel the saliva entering my mouth is cold. The saliva gland must get cold.
- Oh yeah I've had that, that's a weird feeling

Do you floss and brush your tongue regularly?
- Tongue brushing is underrated.
- I brush my teeth regularly... Also I take sips of water almost constantly which means I don't have problems with bad breath
  
  Yeah but do you floss?

I would imagine it's simply changes in the bacterial biome of your mouth, but I'm curious too. Especially as to why that saliva smell also comes off snails. 🤢
- Probably related to dryness of winter air?

I can agree that crisp, cold air has a taste sometimes. But I would never describe it as milky. To be fair, I’m not sure how to describe sooo

I don't know what smell you're talking about about, but the extreme temperature might alter how you taste or smell, which may contribute to that.
- Hmm possibly

Ozone, maybe?
Does it taste kinda metallic?
- There's no way you're breathing enough ozone anywhere on walkable Earth for you to taste it. However trapped CO2 form the surrounding air in water particles flowing in the air may explain this, the taste is bitter, slightly sharp.

My guess is similar to everyone else, that the dryness is affecting it. Cold air might dry things out, especially if you're breathing heavily through your mouth since your nose feels cold (and cold weather can be strenuous). That might cause it to get dryer, or decrease saliva production entirely and make things thicker
This might be a weird thing to experiment with, but that might give you some areas to test out
- Yes I think this is it, I just wonder what chemical causes the taste...

I've smelled the mildly sour smell of saliva on skin, but I don't know if I've ever noticed a specific odor when it's cold.

Synesthesia?
- No I don't think it's that. It's a taste I get in my mouth, after eg. running outside when it's >0°C which means breathing a lot, possibly meaning my mouth is dry? Yeah maybe it's to do with the mouth being dry...

Wow I didn't know that was uncommon, it happens to me too. I don't have any clue what causes it unfortunately.
- What word would you use to describe it?
  
  It's hard to describe, but almost sort of a metallic taste? It's weird, maybe I'll go take a sprint later and try to better describe it.

34 comments