The intense sensation of a chili burn in the mouth is, thankfully, temporary. While it might feel as though the heat will last indefinitely, the discomfort is not permanent.
Based on information referenced on April 8, 2022, by Serena Ball, MS, RD, a registered dietitian nutritionist and food writer, the burn from capsaicin—the compound that creates the spicy feeling—generally dissipates in about 15 minutes. According to McGee, the pain typically subsides within this timeframe.
This indicates that although the initial feeling can be quite strong, the mouth's natural processes work relatively quickly to reduce the sensation caused by capsaicin molecules binding to pain receptors.
