How to Cool Your Mouth After Eating Spicy Food

Posted on September 2nd, 2009 by Elaine

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So you think you’re hot stuff and you eat a few of those spicy chili peppers. Soon, your mouth is on fire and the pain is too much for you to handle. Don’t worry, there are effective ways to cool a mouth after eating spicy food. Here are several options you can try.

What You’ll Need:

Water
Ice
Milk
Carbohydrates-rich food (such as bread or rice)
Beer or wine
Sugar or honey
Lemon or lime

Turn To Water Or Ice

This is the best first aid tactic many people would turn to. Get a glass of ice-cold water and drink it, to relieve the pain. Swishing it around your mouth and spitting it out also works, because the movement lifts the chemicals that cause spiciness. Sucking on an ice cube also helps, since it lasts longer and numbs your tongue.

Chew On Carbs

Simple carbs absorb the spicy oils that cause the hot and burning sensation. Chew on a piece of bread or have a few spoonfuls of rice. You can also try eating bagel or a muffin.

Have A Glass Of Milk

Fatty products have been said to ease the pain of spicy food in your mouth. Milk is one example that works well. Drink a glass of cold milk, holding each mouthful in your mouth for five seconds before gulping it down. You can also use other dairy products, like cheese, whipped cream, chocolate, yogurt, ice cream and sour cream. Peanut butter also works well. (For other uses of milk, read 15 Unusual uses for milk)

Drink Alcohol

Capsaicin, the chemical that causes the spiciness, is alcohol soluble. Drinking a bottle of beer or a glass of wine helps reduce its unpleasant effects. (Wanna create your own wine, learn how to make wine)

Sweet Versus Spicy

Sugar can effectively reduce heat levels. When their dishes become too hot, they resolve the problem by adding sugar. Put a spoonful in your mouth, then suck on it, until it’s completely dissolved. Honey also works.

Get Some Citrus Acid

Like alcohol, acidic juices also help neutralize capsaicin. Chew on a piece of lime or lemon, to strip the chili from the tongue.

A Few Tips:

Don’t eat too much spicy food, especially if you have indigestion or ulcer problems.
If you’re lactose intolerant, the milk method might not be a great idea.
If your head and body feels tingly and itchy, it might be because you’re dehydrated. Drink some water.

You might be a daredevil enough to chew on a piece of chili pepper, but you’ll soon find your mouth burning in pain. Just turn to these tactics and you can go back to enjoying your meal.