How to Avoid Ashtray Mouth?

[doccaliban]

Tile edited for caps and brevity. Original:

Smoking again after a 20-ish year break: How to avoid ashtray mouth?

I like everything about smoking except for the taste in my mouth afterward. Having had a clean palate an tongue for all these years, I am not at all interested in getting used to that aftertaste again. What I've been doing is smoking just a little bit each day and being careful to not let it build. What are some tips for minimizing it in general?

 

[OzPiper]

Limiting the number of smokes.
Keep well hydrated. Alcohol tends to dehydrate
Having chewing gum/snack/food after a smoke (aids saliva production and acts as a palate cleanser)
Biotene mouth rinses or just plain brushing your teeth, if necessary

Never had to do anything more
But then I only have 2 smokes (occasionally 3) on Saturday and Sunday

If all fails, Asian supermarkets have some pretty pungent snacks that can be guaranteed to get rid of ANY ashtray mouth

 

[doccaliban]

Thank you, all good tips. I agree that the number one thing will be going easy. I used to smoke a lot, so I don't think I thought about it much. Now though, I notice it right away if it starts to happen. Ick.
I have noticed the food thing... if I smoke after eating, my mouth still has that food residue and it seems to help prevent it a bit.

 

[woodsroad]

Keep your pipes clean. Warm water rinse followed by twisted paper towel in bowl.

 

[JimInks]

I find apples are really good palate cleaners for me. And keep hydrated while you smoke.

 

[thesmokindragon]

+1 Biotene mouth rinses plus a good tongue scraper - I just started breaking out all the blends after a few years off - had the same problem - also if you like ginger / candied ginger also helps me reset between smokes and also perhaps peels me off the floor from a massive NIC hit / strong blends in too big of a pipe...will I ever learn...NOPE

Thanks and praise to JimInks for all the outstanding tobacco reviews he continues to do for us all - He has helped me stock a very full-spectrum tobacco cellar over the years

 

[JimInks]

+1 Biotene mouth rinses plus a good tongue scraper - I just started breaking out all the blends after a few years off - had the same problem - also if you like ginger / candied ginger also helps me reset between smokes and also perhaps peels me off the floor from a massive NIC hit / strong blends in too big of a pipe...will I ever learn...NOPE

Thanks and praise to JimInks for all the outstanding tobacco reviews he continues to do for us all - He has helped me stock a very full-spectrum tobacco cellar over the years

Thank you for the kind words.

I should have mentioned a tongue scraper. I use one quite frequently. Thanks for mentioning it.

 

[mortonbriar]

Well it really is quite a gross habit in some ways! Water, apple, tooth brush, biotene...they all help a bit.

 

[makhorkasmoker]

What solved the problem for me was switching to non-cased, untopped tobaccos—“blenders” mostly. It was the sugars and flavorings giving me the bad aftertaste, not the tobaccos

 

[doccaliban]

What solved the problem for me was switching to non-cased, untopped tobaccos—“blenders” mostly. It was the sugars and flavorings giving me the bad aftertaste, not the tobaccos

That could very well be a contributing factor for me; a great idea, thanks!

 

[doccaliban]

Well it really is quite a gross habit in some ways! Water, apple, tooth brush, biotene...they all help a bit.

It really is, yes. Heh. Wonderfully gross, though!

 

[doccaliban]

Thank you for the kind words.

I should have mentioned a tongue scraper. I use one quite frequently. Thanks for mentioning it.

Even when I was actively smoking back in the day I had not heard of this. I will look into it!

 

[doccaliban]

Keep your pipes clean. Warm water rinse followed by twisted paper towel in bowl.

You know, I have never done that. I will start the habit today.

 

[woodsroad]

You know, I have never done that. I will start the habit today.

Don’t rinse the stem, unless it’s acrylic. Rubber will oxidize in warm water.

 

[doccaliban]

Don’t rinse the stem, unless it’s acrylic. Rubber will oxidize in warm water.

Thank you! Is it ok to rinse them if I dry them right away?

 

[woodsroad]

Thank you! Is it ok to rinse them if I dry them right away?

Cold water only, then treat with whatever oil/wax you use to keep them nice.

 

[doccaliban]

Cold water only, then treat with whatever oil/wax you use to keep them nice.

Note to self: Get some oil or wax.

 

[woodsroad]

Note to self: Get some oil or wax.

Obsidian Oil or microcrystalline wax works for me.

 

[doccaliban]

Obsidian Oil or microcrystalline wax works for me.

Now that I think about it, I have some kind of wax that I bought as part of a restoration kit about 10 years ago... I'll see if I can chase it up!

 

[TheWhale13]

It's a necessary side effect of smoking. Drinking something and chewing gum will make it unnoticable and you'll get used to it soon enough anyway.