Mint is the most widely used flavor in toothpaste, mouthwash, and breath-fresheners in western culture. Why did mint take off, as opposed to basil, cilantro, lemon, or other "fresh" flavors?
Oh! We've had this question before, and it's one of my all-time favorites. /u/HereForTheFish and /u/Sriad come from two different angles, and you should definitely read both answers:
They trace the transformation of an actual biological fact into a cultural phenomenon through consumerism and advertising strategy. It's so cool. (Well, okay, I thought it was super cool, which is maybe not the best metric...)