Just pick up your pipe and shove some tobacco in it and light it and enjoy your smoke, where's my head gone ? to much info for smoking a pipe, it's a enjoyable pastime, I have loved it for nearly 60yrs, just do it.
SCIENCE! LOL
Alkaline Beverages to Counteract Tongue Bite
- Thread starter khiddy
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SCIENCE! LOL
I've been struggling with tongue bite as well for over a year since I started. I am on this rabbit hole also and even bought some test strips to test my ph and the ph of blending tobaccos in water. I agree and have confirmed that burley and VA are about the same on the slightly acidic side, perique was a little higher, and cigar leaf was high probably a 9. I believe that the combustion just changes everything though so unburnt PH really doesn't seem to matter. What I don't understand is my natural saliva is very high for some reason, about an 8 almost 9 usually based on periodic testing. Seems odd to me I get burned so easy when my natural mount ph is already alkaline.
I am still very new to this so technique, dryness, etc. (I've ready all I can on this time sucking hobby...) may still be problems but it feels like more than that. The burns can sometimes be visible similar, or maybe it is, to geographic tongue. Starts in a little circle and spreads over the next couple of days out until it's made it to the end of the tongue and I get a fresh slate to burn again.
Burleys seem to be the worst (BLWB must be a joke of a name) and orlik golden slice is about the only thing I'm ready to rule out as a non-burner for me.
I am still very new to this so technique, dryness, etc. (I've ready all I can on this time sucking hobby...) may still be problems but it feels like more than that. The burns can sometimes be visible similar, or maybe it is, to geographic tongue. Starts in a little circle and spreads over the next couple of days out until it's made it to the end of the tongue and I get a fresh slate to burn again.
Burleys seem to be the worst (BLWB must be a joke of a name) and orlik golden slice is about the only thing I'm ready to rule out as a non-burner for me.
Did you read my reply with the link in it?
P.S. @HawkeyeLinus I can’t make out what that is, with the deer? Hmm
I did, it is very helpful. I just found it strange that if I have a high normal PH level in my mouth, I assumed I would be more comfortable with alkaline smoke. But my experience is just as it says, the more alkaline smoking tobaccos tend to burn the most. All this to say I’ve essentially given up on the high PH water, if burn is caused by high PH smoke that seems to be the worst thing you could do. I haven’t figured it out yet but I’m working it out. The hardest part is that it takes so much time. I try, get burned, wait 3-5 days to normalize, try again, burn again, wait… etc. The pattern doesn’t yield much progress at essentially 1-2 bowls a week. I guess I could just smoke golden slice forever… there are worse things.Did you read my reply with the link in it?
P.S. @HawkeyeLinus I can’t make out what that is, with the deer? Hmm
Salt block!Did you read my reply with the link in it?
P.S. @HawkeyeLinus I can’t make out what that is, with the deer? Hmm
Thank you, all, for the interesting conversation. Many points of view to consider.
I don’t smoke a lot of burleys, as I find they dry my mouth out. I also don’t smoke a lot of aromatics, and those that I do are not “bitey” for me (which is why they have made the cut). It’s really only Virginias that occasionally irritate my mouth, and my experience is that what I’m doing with the magnesium water seems to be working effectively to counter that. Plus I find it pleasant to drink (and it’s healthy).
I wanted to offer my approach as a data point for others who might be interested in experimenting on their own. It works for me, perhaps it may work for you. YMMV, as I’ve been told.
By the way, I do brush my teeth and rinse with Biotene (or the equivalent generic and/or ACT Dry Mouth) twice a day. It’s an excellent and soothing routine, one that can be recommended to all pipers.
Happy smokes, y’all.
I don’t smoke a lot of burleys, as I find they dry my mouth out. I also don’t smoke a lot of aromatics, and those that I do are not “bitey” for me (which is why they have made the cut). It’s really only Virginias that occasionally irritate my mouth, and my experience is that what I’m doing with the magnesium water seems to be working effectively to counter that. Plus I find it pleasant to drink (and it’s healthy).
I wanted to offer my approach as a data point for others who might be interested in experimenting on their own. It works for me, perhaps it may work for you. YMMV, as I’ve been told.
By the way, I do brush my teeth and rinse with Biotene (or the equivalent generic and/or ACT Dry Mouth) twice a day. It’s an excellent and soothing routine, one that can be recommended to all pipers.
Happy smokes, y’all.
Very interesting topic. I think we all have different mouth chemistries. Burkeys do not bite me. Virginias, on the whole, do. I also seem to be allergic to Kentucky in higher quantities. If condimental, I can handle it. But HH Bold KY and ODF, for example, really do something to my mouth. It isn’t tongue bite, but more of an allergic reaction where my mouth begins tingling and I can’t really taste anything (and thus stop smoking). It doesn’t burn when I brush my teeth like it burns when I smoke some Virginias. I seem to have no issues smoking Perique.
I disagree with your statement. I also have an issue with tongue bit with specific blends, mostly Mac Baren. Specifically Mac Baren {Dark Twist Roll Cake}. I smoke vaper blends, burly blends, latakia blends and dark fired blends and all in-between and aromatics, all with out issue. Proper cadence etc. Mac Barren (Vanilla Cream Flake)-(Dark Twist Roll Cake) both give me insane tongue bite for no reason; no matter what i try. A filter does help a little but not enough. Even drying out the tobacco a lot does not help. I would not be surprised if my mouth PH is to low (acidic) and the toppings are causing a reaction with my tongue due to the acidic nature of my mouth. I have been speculating this being the problem for a while; but hearing someone else having the same problem I think it to be the case 100%. I will also be trying the magnesium carbonate and other alternatives to fix the issue because I really love the taste of the tobacco and it would be a shame if I can't solve this issue. This issue has very little to do with hot tobacco smoke and cadence and packing. Everyone's biology is slightly different. trying to fix the PH balance in your mouth is not a (gimmick) its a possible solution to some peoples problems with specific blend types, toppings / casings added to various tobaccos.
Thank you for joining, just to disagree, but I am unclear on exactly what you are disagreeing with me about. I don't like Mac Barens either. Almost everyone, except a few freaks gets tongue bite from Most Mac Baren blends. Mac Bitey is their nickname. It sounds like the problem is your choice of tobaccos.
I would suggest trying a few C&D blends, with less casings and added sugars. It may just ease your situation a tad.
Good luck with that.
I'm another tongue bite sufferer. I've found that both bicarbonate of soda and salt (grey natural Celtic sea salt) quite effective in controlling it. As is laying off a lot of smoking for a couple of days.
That's tough, though.
Cigars are a lot easier on the tongue, I've also found.
That's tough, though.
Cigars are a lot easier on the tongue, I've also found.
I resemble that remark. At least the MB HH blends and Dark Twist do not bite me at all. Never tried their aromatics though. For me some Virginia-based blends bite, particularly ones with the bright Virginia leaf. That's why I favor blends with plenty of burley and DFK.
I suggest to anyone not micromanaging your palate just so that one can smoke what one does not like.
what would you say is the best (subjective, I know) C&D virginia blend that IS NOT a small batch/limited edition? Looking to dip my toes in the va waters.
Opening Night and Virginia Flake are (according to Jeremy) uncased Virginias. ON is a blend of reds and brights, and VF is lighter brighter blend with more notes of baked bread and subtle oats.
I hope that helps. I keep one of these two open at all times.
It seems like you just have keep trying different tobaccos until you find one that works. All the while your stash is maturing and technique is improving. Currently it's just D&R straight VA blends for me. No clue why (dryness, lack of topping, leaf selection, etc.) all probably play in. I've read "dry your tobacco" a million times but until I bought D&R I didn't realize what dry was. I'll just settle in now with some straight dry bright VA's and I'm ok with that. I will be trying Opening night next chance I get though, pity I just did my quarterly order from smoking pipes and left that one out. Any advice for someone who is enjoying three sails and the windsail tobaccos? I'm loving the shag cut, it practically smokes itself which is nice when driving. Mind the heat of course, it can run away quick so I just breath smoke it.
NEWS FLASH and this is not from me, but from my chiropractor who also is a naturopath. He suggests for nasal congestion, colds, flu . . . . hypochlorus acid spray. Available online:
it's basically ionized salt water, completely non-toxic and is a powerful antibacterial. It has replaced alcohol in most hospitals. Completely non-toxic. Just spray it on your tongue. Bingo. Irritation gone.
I've tried it over the past few days and it brings instant relief. Not a cur per se, but you're tongue bite wil be relieved right away. You'll get it back if you smoke at this point, but other pharmaceuticals or natural cures such as biotin, or your own pet remedy will provide as much of a cure as you'll get from them.
The link is for Amazon.ca but Amazon.com carries it too, of course.
it's basically ionized salt water, completely non-toxic and is a powerful antibacterial. It has replaced alcohol in most hospitals. Completely non-toxic. Just spray it on your tongue. Bingo. Irritation gone.
I've tried it over the past few days and it brings instant relief. Not a cur per se, but you're tongue bite wil be relieved right away. You'll get it back if you smoke at this point, but other pharmaceuticals or natural cures such as biotin, or your own pet remedy will provide as much of a cure as you'll get from them.
The link is for Amazon.ca but Amazon.com carries it too, of course.