With near predictability I sneeze following the intake of mint whether it's gum, a breath mint, Listerine breath strips, or something else. I've now come to refer to these items as Sneezey Treats. Following the two sneezes, there are no other symptoms. I don't break out in hives, no watery eyes, nothing.
Anyone else got this going on? I obviously don't need to rush to the emergency room and the solution is even more obvious -- stop consuming this stuff, right -- but am looking for fellow MSPs -- or mint sensitive people. Any out there?
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment120 Comments
I have the same allergy. My mom does too. It's the exact same allergy to those who sneeze due to the sunlight. An irritation in the sinuses. Sunlight does not make me sneeze. Mints do. Depending on the strength of the mint I can tolerate them or need to spit them out to catch my breathe. I have an obsession with starlight mints, which make me sneeze, but are tolerable.
June 3, 2015 - 1:19pmThis Comment
This is the same for me. If i consume anything such as mint gum i sneeze exactly twice then receive no other symptons.
This doesnt not happen if i pop another piece of gum in straight after but will reoccur if i pop some more in 10 minutes after.
I have always found this bizarre and thought only i suffered with it.
Its fantastic to know i am not alone
April 24, 2015 - 6:14amThis Comment
Exactly The same for me. I sneeze two times, after having a mint gum.
But the fact that it has not created any havoc in my body, at least, I dont know it, I have not stopped having it.
I have a mint gum daily, and I love the sneeze! lol..
But, I too am concerned.
March 12, 2015 - 3:38amThis Comment
This phenomenon also happens to me. I sneeze at least 3 times or more as soon as a place a piece of peppermint gum in my mouth.
March 2, 2015 - 2:26pmThis Comment
Same here sneezing with the tic tacs and peppermint altoids, but if I chew Big Red (cinnamon gum) it makes blisters on my tongue and mouth, so I had to quit that.
January 15, 2015 - 1:35pmThis Comment
It happens to me too. I can only assume it is our taste buds reacting to the mint somehow, not an allergy thing at all. Same way light makes you sneeze, probably using a certain set of muscles or something that triggers a sneeze.
December 4, 2014 - 12:06pmThis Comment
It happens to me too. I can only assume it is our taste buds reacting to the mint somehow, not an allergy thing at all. Same way light makes you sneeze, probably using a certain set of muscles or something that triggers a sneeze.
December 4, 2014 - 12:06pmThis Comment
The same thing happens to me! Whenever I have mint gum or some mint candy I sneeze a few seconds later. It's very weird, but it's not like I'm allergic to it because I sneeze once and that's all that happens. I want to know why this happens though.
November 13, 2014 - 9:10pmThis Comment
I sneeze after putting a piece of strong mint gum (especially from Extra Dessert Delights Mint Chocolate Chip gum) in my mouth. To be exact, it happens to me about 2 seconds afterward and I only sneeze once from them. The thing is, after the first sneeze I am fine the whole rest of the time I am chewing the gum. I hope someone knows why this happens. I am pretty sure I inherited it from my dad since he sneezes from mint gum as well, but I still want to know why. I also ALMOST sneeze when I go outside and look at the sun, but I think I just don't since I don't look at it directly (I think I'm a photic sneezer!). I inherited that from my mom. The people in my family are all sneezers in some way. I heard that usually photic sneezers sneeze from mint gum (which I mentioned earlier that I do) and from dark chocolate as well. However, I'm not the photic sneezer that sneezes from dark chocolate. Anyone out there that can tell me the causes of all this? Thanks!
October 10, 2014 - 1:31pmThis Comment
Actually everyone normally sneezes when they see light. It's a reflex that we evolved so that if we accidentally look at the sun our body sneezes so we are forces to look away.
March 24, 2015 - 6:23amThis Comment