I Tried Viral Oral Sex Mints, and Was Surprised When They Actually Worked

Going a full four-hour drive to visit my long-term, long-distance FWB without drinking a single sip of water may get me to my destination faster. But, as I’ve come to learn, the downside of this stunt is that it makes my mouth far drier than I’d like it to be for the messy sex I schlepped out for. So, you can imagine my delight when a solution arrived at my door: Flintts Mints ($8 for a tin of 30 mints). 

“Flintts Mints are lozenges designed to make your mouth water,” says certified sex educator Marla Renee Stewart, MA, CSE, expert with Lovers and co-author of The Ultimate Guide To Seduction and Foreplay. And because they are genital-safe and work immediately, they’ve secured a permanent place in my booty call sack. 

What are Flintts Mints? 

Flintts Mints are quick-dissolving candies that ramp up spit product when your salivary glands are slacking—which could be due to general dehydration, prescription medication (e.g., antidepressants, allergy medication, and antibiotics), an underlying medical condition (e.g., diabetes, nerve damage, stroke, or HIV), cannabis use, stress and anxiety, or generalized aging, says Stewart. The product, which first launched in 2019, was designed to curb dry mouth, and not to facilitate fellatio… but, the people of the internet quickly learned that these little mints had some serious sex benefits. 

While Flintts Mouth Watering Mints aren’t the only ingestible oral sex aid on the market—Bijoux Indiscrets makes a lifesaver-shaped variation, Doc Johnson and Crazy Girl have oral sex gel, and one company sells oral sex Pop Rocks—they are definitely the most viral pick. The brand’s TikTok has nearly 300K followers, and the #FlinttsMints hashtag has amassed more than 40 million likes on videos of reviewers showing off their increased spit.

Flintts Mints

$8

Shop at Lovers

The simplicity of the Flintts Mints recipe also sets them apart from other oral sex edibles. These four-ingredient suckers use Spilanthes flower, a plant noted to stimulate saliva flow, to boost spit production, rather than sweet or sour additives. In fact, the mints don’t contain any sugar or glycerin, which are known disruptors of the vaginal and anal microbiomes and can lead to yeast infections. In practice, this means that they are likely safe to use for oral sex on a penis ahead of penis-in-vagina play, as well as for cunnilingus.   

Personally, I dig that Flintts Mints are available in different intensities, ranging from subtle (F Strength 100) and going up to slobbery (F Strength 300). I also like the plastic-free, user-friendly packaging, which resembles a vintage cigarette case. Each 30-mint tin is the size of a credit card, and no thicker than an uncased iPhone. So, you can discreetly slide them into your back pocket with your spare condom, or toss them into an overnight bag. 

When to use Flintts Mints during sex 

Wondering when exactly these Altoid-shaped suckers could come in handy? The short answer is anytime you wish to have access to more spit than you are currently producing. 

Most likely, though, you’ll want to pop a mint before going down on a partner. “Giving oral sex can feel deeply intimate—it’s an act of generosity, trust, and closeness that allows you to see your partner’s pleasure,” says doctor of human sexuality and AASECT-certified sex therapist Sadie Allison, PhD, author of Tickle His Pickle: Hands On Guide To Penis Pleasing. Some people enjoy the power play and dynamics that performing oral can facilitate, while others enjoy the boost of self-confidence that can accompany getting your partner off, she says. 

Unfortunately, giving head when you have dry mouth can be uncomfy for all parties involved. “Dry mouth results in increased friction, which leads to chafing of the lips and mouth of the giver,” says Allison. Not to mention, it can feel uncomfortable and even abrasive for the receiver. “A lack of saliva can also kill the flow, messing up your sensual rhythm and oral game,” leaving you feeling embarrassed, frazzled, or unconfident, she says. 

Popping in one of these quick-dissolving treats can help make the oral sexperience better for all. “As far as oral sex is concerned, wetter is better,” says Stewart. “The increased saliva will help the genitals slip and slide across your mouth, ultimately making giving and receiving a much more pleasurable experience.”

Spit production aside, these lozenges come in nine different flavors including Cherry, Lemon, and Cinnamon Ginger, which all leave a fruity, sour, or minty taste behind. As such, they can make oral sex more palatable for receivers who are self-conscious about their body’s scent or taste, and might feel relieved knowing their partner’s taste buds are preoccupied with other flavors. (And while flavored lubes can also do the trick here, many of them contain potential irritants like glycerin.)  

Flintts Mints can also be helpful if your lover has a spit kink or otherwise enjoys spit play, says Stewart. “They create more moisture in your mouth so that you can ‘hawk tuah’ as much as you or they like,” she says. 

Here’s what happened when I tried Flintts Mints 

First, a bit of context. The Nutmeg State, where I currently reside, is woefully short on both of my types: liberal ranchers and geeky meatheads. These days, when I want to get laid, I have to get in my Subaru and travel 200+ miles across state lines. It isn’t the drive itself I mind, but the gas station rest stops—so, naturally, I deny myself my usual bottle of water and try to get there without stopping. 

Through trial and error, I’ve found that hooking up while dehydrated is… well, dry. So this most recent time I took a mint-flavored moderate F Strength 200 Flintts Mints five minutes before my predicted ETA—after all, we always skip niceties in favor of getting naked as soon as possible. 

As soon as I popped it in my mouth? Spit. Lots of it. The mint took the entire rest of the ride to fully dissolve (and I was actively sucking on it). By the time I pressed the doorbell to announce my arrival, I was practically drooling over myself, and not just metaphorically. Privy to my experiment, my lover whipped off their pants and allowed me to put my wet, wet mouth to work. 

Yes, I loved how easily my lips glided over their genitals after taking the supplement—but more than that, I enjoyed the way all of my senses became ignited. The slurping sounds were loud, and the glistening gleam was greater. And while I prefer the taste of my partner's fluids to the taste of the mints (which masked their tang), I noticed that my taste buds were more engaged, too. 

I was a little worried that the zingy sensation the mint had left in my mouth would transfer to their genitals—and eventually, to my vagina, causing a spicy sensation after we transitioned to genitals-on-genitals sex. But it didn’t! On the contrary, the spit helped us glide with, in, and against each other in a way that felt fantastic. 

Other tips for dry mouth and oral play 

Yes, Flintts Mints are an effective way to boost saliva production for oral sex—but they are far from the only way to zhuzh up oral play with dry mouth. Here are some options to try: 

Lather up with flavored lubes: “Not only do flavored lubricants reduce friction and dryness, but they also add a sensory twist with their cherry, vanilla, mint, you-name-it flavors,” says board-certified sexologist and holistic sex educator Tiffany Chan, MA, CHSE, ABS. Just make sure the lube in question is free from glycerin and ingestible. (Personally, I like this Vanilla Chai option from Hello Cake.) 

Utilize Lorals underwear: The lovechild of lingerie and a dental dam, Lorals underwear—which is designed for analingus or cunnilingus—creates a barrier between the receiver’s body and the giver’s mouth. When performing oral on a lover wearing Lorals, the wetness of your mouth isn’t as important as the strokes and pressure you deliver through the latex with your tongue, toys, or fingers. 

Use your hands: Incorporating your hands into your oral play can heighten intensity, vary sensation, and take pressure off the speed with which you reproduce spit, says Chan. “For penises, the combination of mouth and hand often creates an immersive and pleasurable experience,” she says. Meanwhile, for partners with a vulvas, you can “use your hands to press into the inner thighs, stimulate the clitoris or G-spot externally or internally, or just provide grounding connection.” 

Switch to an oral sex toy: Thanks to tongue vibrators and oral sex toys (like the Zalo Eve, Rose toy, and Womanizer Duo), your human tongue isn’t the only way that your partner can enjoy the sensations of sucking, flicking, and licking. “Using a toy specifically designed to simulate oral sex on your partner can be a great way to give your mouth a break while keeping the sensations going strong,” says Chan.

Drink water: A simple, but often overlooked, tip for avoiding dry mouth during oral sex? Staying hydrated. “Sipping water throughout the day, and not just before the steamy session, really can help,” says Chan. 

Give yourself a mouth massage: Sure, the main event may be giving your boo a tongue rub-down. But gently massaging the area under your jaw pre-play can help stimulate saliva flow, says Chan. “It might sound odd, but this technique is even recommended by dentists for those with chronic dry mouth,” she says. 

Talk to a provider: If your dry mouth is consistent, it can negatively impact your life outside of the bedroom, too. If this sounds like you, Chan suggests talking to your healthcare provider. “Persistent dry mouth can be linked to medication or a health condition, so a doctor may be able to offer a more permanent, tailored solution,” she says.