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How long should I rest after getting tongue bite?

(15 posts)
  • Started 4 months ago by brdavidson
  • Latest reply from allan
  1. brdavidson

    brdavidson

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    Just got my first good case of tongue bite and I'm wondering how long you usually need to rest your mouth before you smoke again? Sadly this is a blend I've smoked a fair amount of (WO Larsen Old Fashioned) that I absolutely love and I think I may have just over done it.

    “A pipe in the mouth makes it clear that there has been no mistake–you are undoubtedly a man.”
    -A. A. Milne
    Posted 4 months ago #
  2. mlaug

    mlaug

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    Give it a day or so, it'll get better.

    "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." - Claire Wolfe
    Posted 4 months ago #
  3. zonomo

    zonomo

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    It happens. My problem is I am too impatient and I smoke away.

    Posted 4 months ago #
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    rothnh

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    I'm really not being facetious is saying this, but you need to take as much time as it takes for your mouth and tongue to heal completely.

    You might want to pick up some Biotene (there are some different formulas, so read the labels at the pharmacy). Many find Biotene to help a lot.

    While you're abstaining, muse about your unfortunate experience. Think about your pipe, you tobacco, how you prepare the tobacco, how you pack it, light it, your smoking style, the pace of your puffing.

    As you ponder these things, first is to zero in on your condition: Was it bite or burn? Burn is caused by steam, such as condensation of moist tobacco, sometimes mixed with saliva, that, when heated by the tobacco's burning in the pipe, causes steam and burns the crap out of your mouth and/or tongue. Tongue bite can be caused by a number of factors -- maybe the tobacco blend does not agree with you, a physical reaction. Another cause of tongue bite is puffing to quickly and/or too often -- virginia blends are a good example -- some blends absolutely demand respect and solid technique, so will either reward you for doing it right, or punish you severely for "not getting it." Either condition can easily sneak up on you and the resultant "oh sh!t" moment not realized until it's too late.

    Was your pipe completely dry and clean before you fired it up? I should have been.

    Did you properly prepare your tobacco? Correct cut/consistency, allowing for proper dryness, for example.

    How's you're packing technique? Too loose, it will burn too fast and hot. Too tight, it will be difficult to smoke and burn unevenly. The draw should be like sipping soda through a straw; if the draw is like sipping a milkshake, your packing is too tight. The tobacco in the filled bowl should be "springy." As you practice this, think looser than tighter.

    Charring light, while puffing, then tamp the tobacco evenly prior to the true light. Puff slowly, then slow down some more. Sip. If the tobacco goes out, tamp, relight, sip, sip, sip.

    Good luck! Remember that patience is the hardest think to learn for a new pipe smoker and patience touches every aspect of the hobby. Good luck -- and let us know how you make out!

    Posted 4 months ago #
  5. madmurdoc

    madmurdoc

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    It really depends, I've had tongue bite that's lasted a few hours and then one that's lasted several days. But a day should be sufficient in many cases.

    “The same hand that can write a beautiful poem, can knock you out with one punch—that's Poetic Justice.”
    ― "Irish" Wayne Kelly
    Posted 4 months ago #
  6. nsfisher

    nsfisher

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    True tounge bite, for me anyway, lasts about 3-5 days.

    If at first you don't succeed, have another bowl.
    Posted 4 months ago #
  7. baronsamedi

    baronsamedi

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    It sounds like burn, rather than bite. Just rinse with Biotene every day until your tongue is better, then smoke slower and dry your tobacco more.

    Proud Member of the Blackblood Society Photobucket
    Posted 4 months ago #
  8. cigrmaster

    cigrmaster

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    Once your tongue is feeling better the next time you light up pay attention and see if when the smoke is hitting your tongue are you getting a tingling kind of burn. If that is happening it could be you and that blend are not compatible. We all have different body chemistry's so you may not be able to smoke certain types. For me it is red Virginia's that burn my tongue the instant the smoke hits it. I spent a long time and a lot of money trying to smoke through this condition until I learned about it. If it is regular tongue bite time and Biotene will help. I would also recommend drinking sweet iced tea when you smoke and avoid carbonated or citrus drinks.

    Harris
    Posted 4 months ago #
  9. brdavidson

    brdavidson

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    Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm stubborn and impatient so I decided to try the following:

    1. Let the tobacco dry for a half hour before smoked (local blend called AUE TQ which I suspect is their version of 1Q
    2. Packed the bowl much looser than ever before, probably close to half the normal amount I've been doing
    3. Smoked a LOT slower
    4. Had sweetened ice tea to drink with it

    Had my best smoke yet! So flavorful, smooth and only had to re-light 2x. When I cleaned the pipe out (Brigham system pipe) the wooden filter was barely damp at the end, previously they have been soaked when I took them out to clean. Thanks for all the input, that was far and away the best smoke I've had yet.

    Posted 4 months ago #
  10. brdavidson

    brdavidson

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    Oh ya, and my tongue doesn't hurt at all now

    Posted 4 months ago #
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    rothnh

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    I'm stubborn and impatient

    You certainly worked a lot on that patience WTG!

    Posted 4 months ago #
  12. brdavidson

    brdavidson

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    Yep, I figured there was no chance of me waiting a few days before trying my next bowl so I followed the rest of the advice. Worked like a charm!

    Posted 4 months ago #
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    rothnh

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    Happy to hear it!

    Patience is the hardest thing to master for a new puffer -- and the most important, as patience touches everything in our pipe smoking hobby.

    Posted 4 months ago #
  14. bigboi

    bigboi

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    brdavidson, way to go. I had to learn the hard way to slow down too.

    “I believe that pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgement in all human affairs.”
    -Albert Einstein, 1950
    Posted 4 months ago #
  15. allan

    allan

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    Rothnh and Cigarmaster

    Excellent and thoughtful replies.

    Thank you
    Allan

    Posted 4 months ago #

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