Has this ever happened to you?

[chlogeo3]

I have a modest collection of 21 pipes which I smoke in rotation and I only smoke Maple Street. However, lately Iam getting a dry mouth and a sore throat.
Can anyone shed some light on this ?
Also let me add I smoke at least 10 bowls a day.
Thanks,

Forrest

:puffpipe:

 

[brian64]

I mean this in all sincerity (not trying to be a smart ass - hell, I wish I could smoke “at least 10 bowls a day”) but have you considered reducing your smoke intake and increasing your water intake?

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

Lol, I always have coffee, sweet tea, or water around when I'm out smoking. Otherwise, it's a good liquor (brandy, scotch, etc.) when I'm at home.

 

[unclearthur]

Maintain hydration and cut back a wee bit till things clear up.

 

[yoru]

Cut back on the smoking, make sure you don't accidentally inhale and drink plenty of water. Many years ago when I first tried a pipe it was actually painful because I smoked the bloody thing all day every day and I inhaled. It was pretty stupid heh heh.
Still, if you drink enough water (can't say how much is enough because it varies) you (your body) can deal with 10 bowls a day.
Oh, and if you're smoking quickly, slow it down -- some of that pain may (probably) be "tongue bite" -- a bowl can easily last an hour if smoked slowly, and if it lasts less than 20 minutes your almost certainly smoking fast enough to hurt yourself heh heh. Unless its a tiny tiny bowl, but you know.

 

[forsooth]

Between each bowl, I rinse thoroughly with Biotene mouthwash. It is alcohol-free and quite pleasant. My taste quickly returns to "normal" (from the sweetness of the Biotene) so that I'm ready for another bowl.
Could the dry mouth have a different cause, e.g., a salivary gland issue?

 

[chero]

i got tongue bite when i first started smokeing a pipe and a real dry mouth. i found out that it took about three months for my tongue to get use to it. but i still get some dry mouth some times. i had to slow down on draw and not let the tip of the stem sit on the tip of my tongue but back halfway. also picked up a spray bottle of mouth moisterizer at the drug store, use it while sleeping.

 

[oldjazzlover]

Could it be that like some of the others said you are puffing to hard to fast, as well as all of the mouth wash? :puffpipe: I tend to enjoy the after taste of my smokes, and am not in a big hurry to wash it away with anything other than a sip of a drink.

 

[chlogeo3]

Thanks Mates for your feed back. ::

 

[mrivney]

Cholgeo3,

Are you sure it's dry mouth? Check out the definition via the web. There's quite a few symptoms that go with it. I've only got one symptom.

I just started getting something like it. But it's not quite the medical condition.

After smoking, for the last 9 months or so, I started getting this condition. Note, I smoke a bowl once a day, and about two cigars a week.

My symptoms are: dry mouth but at the same time I do have saliva. It feels like I've just drank some hard water; kind of chalky. Also, my mouth feels a little astrigent, like I've just had some lemon juice.

So far, I've stopped smoking for six days and it seems, at times, it's a little less.

I think I'll go to my doctor. However, I'll call my dentist first to talk to them about it.

Regards, MrIvney

 

[cortezattic]

I don't think it's a pipe smoking related issue -- especially since you appear to be a veteran pipe smoker, and this condition is a recent development. Consult a doctor.

 

[stacen]

i agree with Cortezattic, see a doc

 

[jcsoldit]

I agree with Cortez... and I sometimes find that the winter months here in the northern part of the U.S. can be a very dry time of year for all things inside due to heaters, fireplaces and alike. This can and will impact your throat paired with the drying nature of smoking in general.

 

[strongirish]

I wear by Biotene myself, it works wonders on dry mouth and tongue bite. Red Wine helps too as it changes the astingency of your mouth.

 

[expatpipe]

If heartburn starts mixing with your other symptoms you should really see the Doc. Good idea to go get it checked out now. But can almost here him or her saying already to cut back on the pipe smoking.

 

[titanicexplorer]

I agree with those who suggest increase water intake, and cut down a tad....
I could smoke my pipe all day, but i'd pay the next day- My tounge would taste like roadkill. I try and keep my bowls down to a couple a day, and accomany it with plenty of water. After I'm done smoking, I gargle and brush my teeth or chew some gum- Thats just me. The only major drawbacl of my pipe smoking is that my morning mouth tastes terrible..

 

[titanicexplorer]

Pipe smoking is enjoyable and relaxing, but it's obviously not good for us. But I choose to smoke my pipe as it is something that gives me pleasure in my life. I have cut down on how much I smoke- I used to smoke all through the day, now I do it mainly at night at home after work. But it's different for every pipe smoker.

 

[mrivney]

Hi all again (and especially to the feller with the dry mouth),

My condition has evolved. It's a consistent salty taste, for the last three weeks. It's been four weeks since the issue started and I just saw my doctor on Thursday. He does not see anything abnormal. (Note: my annual exam was not too long ago and my blood test was done just three months ago. Everything was fine at the time.)

Doctor is now sending me to an ENT (Ears, Nose, and Throat specialist/doctor). Note: I finally did gargle with 3% hydrogen peroxide on Wednesday, but still the issue persists.

Now, the next day after visiting the doctor, the salty taste is declining quite a bit. I'm still going to the specialist and will report back.

BTW, doctor says that there are large taste buds at the back of the tongue but he can't see them (but the ENT should be able to see them with diagnostic tools).

I have not smoked for four weeks! Only a few drinks too. Cut back on soda, caffeine, etc. A salty taste can be a symptom for quite a few different types of diseases.

With this salty taste, I don't enjoy sweet foods such as cookies. When drinking tea, I need to put in double the dose of sugar. And spicy food doesn't taste as good as it used to.

Will report back after trip to ENT.

Regards, MrIvney

 

[mrivney]

OK, one more time!

Back from the doctor (an ENT). He does not see anything! Everything looks fine. Hooray! Kind of. Well, he's only seen two other cases (of salty taste). And they never came back. He doesn't know what it is. He mentioned "altered taste", re: Dysgeusia.

So, the issue, as I described, has mysteriously gone away, back on Friday, 4/7/11. I'm pretty sure. It's not salty anymore. I do taste a little bit of salt but that may be normal. Maybe that's where I was before the issue came up.

I'll take the advice, offered earlier, and use a mouth rinse such as Biotene. (I've been using the gum since the issue started.)

Regards, MrIvney

PS Definitely see a doc. An ENT (Ears, Nose, Throat doc) can look in more places can your regular doctor. He shot something up my nose, and 20 minutes later was sticking a tube and examining my sinuses and back of the throat and tongue.

PSS Going to wait a week or two before I pack my first bowl since quitting back on 3/9/11 when the issue started. Also, will try a little more rinsing with 3% hydrogen peroxide.

 

[marmal4de]

Glad it's nothing serious!