Tongue Bite - Lessons learned

[numbersix]

The discussion of tongue bite comes up now and then, and since I am nearing the end of my battle with it, I thought I'd share my experiences. First, to clarify, tongue bite is different from tongue burn—this seems to be the cause of a lot of confusion.
It is not caused by smoking too fast or too hot. It is more akin to a chemical burn that can affect the entire mouth, not just the tongue, and is similar to an allergic reaction to a tobacco or spice or some other ingredient used in a tobacco.
I've been unable to smoke now for 8 days, probably will not be able to smoke for another 3-5 days more. It sucks. You do not want this - that is for sure and the purpose of this post is to help prevent tongue bite and how to treat it. These are my personal opinions from my own experience— I am not speaking as an authority on the subject and so what worked for me may not work for you.
PREVENTION
To prevent tongue bite, I highly recommend testing all new tobaccos. If it's the first time you're trying a new blend, smoke a very small amount, then leave it alone until the next day. My battle with the bite began with smoking one particular aromatic that had "spices" in it according to its description. I made the mistake of smoking an entire bowl, I could tell something wasn't right, but the burn didn't take place until the next day, so I didn't immediately connect it to the tobacco.
From now on I will be doing this with ALL new tobaccos I try, no matter what. Doing so may seem like an over-reaction, but once you've had tongue bite and are unable to smoke for 10 days, you'll understand.
TREATMENT
For treatment, I did a ton of research and sadly there are no definitive answers. Here's what I discovered...
•BIOTENE: Many recommended Biotene mouthwash. For me it seemed to aggravate my symptoms, but since so many seem to believe in it, it might be worth trying.
•TEE TREE OIL: After a lot of research, my best solution for treating it was using an all natural Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash and toothpaste (I've been using one called Desert Essence, which has no SLS). Most toothpastes contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), which is a foaming agent known to be not only toxic, but also aggravates tongue bite. The Tea Tree Oil is naturally antiseptic as well and the brand I am using has no chemicals.
•VITAMINS: especially Vit A, B, C, D and E (also added lysine). All of these vitamins were thought to aid in some way with mouth sores and/or tongue bite.
•OTHER:

--Gargling with Hydrogen Peroxide - I tried it, but had mixed results, so I stuck with the Tea Tree Oil.

--Another recommendation is gargling warm water and salt. This seemed to help.
The only other thing you can do is wait, 7-10 days by most estimates. Do not (like I did) wait only 4-5 days and think you're healthy enough and smoke again. This only re-activated the tongue bite, causing all the symptoms to return in earnest. Technically, I have been unable to smoke for 12 days thanks to my trying a bowl in-between.
There's very little info that I could find on this subject, so I hope this helps anyone looking for assistance.

 

[sixmp]

Interesting. I cannot tell if i have had tongue bite as you describe it.
I did have a reaction to a blend once though.

My whole mouth was sore and it did not go away for around 2 weeks.

I just carried on smoking though making sure i sipped very gently i gargled with Dentyl mouthwash 2-3 times a day and scrubbed for longer but with less force with my toothbrush.
I did however try the same blend at a later date and i got the same results.

 

[numbersix]

@sixmp Not sure either. You may have had it. I think with all things related to the human body, everyone's experience can be different.

 

[cigrmaster]

6, sorry you had such a nasty case. It sounds like you have a good plan of attack to avoid it in the future. I also like your remedies, very creative thinking on your part.

 

[cortezattic]

Some Popular Myths
High sugar virginias “bite”
I can't count the number of times I've read this. For some reason, it's commonly believed that the more sugar in the leaf, the more “bite” the smoker will experience. While it's true that some tobaccos with a lot of sweetness do tend to irritate the smoker, it's not the sugar content that's responsible.
Tongue “bite” is a response to smoke with a higher pH (more alkaline) than the mouth and tongue are used to. Some tobaccos, notably burleys, contain a high percentage of nitrogenous compounds, and produce a more alkaline smoke. The dreaded “burley curse” often results. Tobacco producers will work to mitigate this by adding sugars to the casing sauces. Sugars, when burned, actually acidify the smoke, resulting in less “bite.” Virginia tobaccos are often blended with burleys to perform the same function.
Body chemistry also seems to play a significant role. The same tobaccos that will cause one person significant distress can be a source of bliss to another. And, our mouth's environmental factors change over time, and react to things like what we eat and what we drink. Unfortunately, it's not simple. I've never known a tobacco that "never bit" 100% of the people 100% of the time.
And, worse, we have to add the pipe into the equation. I've actually had pipes that would turn the most mild-mannered tobaccos into flamethower fuel. Tobaccos that are reliably comfortable for me have been rendered into pain-inducing tinder. Add differences in smoking technique, and the complexity of the system is magnified to the point of intractibility. But, it's not the sugar in Virginias that cause the bite.

From G.L.Pease's FAQ

 

[nsfisher]

It sounds to me as though you "scorched" the inside of your mouth. This can happen by smoking wet baccy and relighting too many times, especially as you get to the bottom of the bowl. If Biotene aggrivated it, I tend to believe this is what happened to you mate. I often times find, that Listerine Zero, works wonders.

 

[numbersix]

Thanks guys - I can say with almost complete certainty that it was tongue bite. It wasn't the type of burn you receive from smoking too hot - I've done that and there's a difference.
On doing a lot research, I discovered that tongue bite is a type of "chemical burn" and that is the best way to describe it. I made this post because there's scant info out there and so I hope if someone else starts searching for help, they'll find this post.
**I should have also added to avoid salt and both carbonated and acidic drinks. I've been on water during the entire healing process. And you gotta be patient!!

 

[photoman13]

Great little helpful thread. Good job numbersix.

 

[spartan]

I made the mistake of smoking an entire bowl, I could tell something wasn't right, but the burn didn't take place until the next day, so I didn't immediately connect it to the tobacco.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with your assesment and agree with nsfisher when he said you scorched your mouth.
When you get tongue bite, it's VERY hard to finish the bowl because you notice a mouth hurt INSTANTLY. Not the next day. If your mouth felt like crap the next day then that's more in line with mouth scortch; you burnt/toasted/cooked your mouth. Most likely from the heat or steam from the tobacco. And from the recovery time you're indicating you were puffing pretty hard.
So if you were able to smoke an entire bowl of this tobacco and you're mouth wasn't on fire right then and there... there's no way it was true tongue bite.
Just trying to help and clarify.
Happy Smoking. ::
Edit: I'll also add that I've had a burn from steam and a burn from just the heat of relighting... And I'll agree to a slight difference. The steam burn was more on the mild side and I was back on my feet within 2 days. A "lighter heat" burn, whatever you want to call it, lasted a while longer because it was closer to an ACTUAL burn. In either case, water works wonders.

 

[foggymountain]

an ice cube or cream

 

[jah76]

It's weird how that works. I smoked from the exact same pouch that bushwhacked Six and didn't feel anything. (I realize why, just an emphasis on how it affects people differently.)
Yet Burleys ruin my day. As soon as I light them I can feel my tongue and back of my throat start to burn. Blech.
My first bowl full of pipe tobacco was horrible. I smoked too fast and smoked a bulk with a bunch of burley in it. My tongue felt like a had pit bull chewed on it for days. Since then I've tried other blends with Burley but there's something about it that doesn't agree with me.
I'm the same way with drinking rum. I've tried low, mid, and highish end rums, but I always get horrible heartburn within 15 minutes.

 

[numbersix]

I will say that anything is possible, however....when it comes to the human body, remember that no two bodies are exactly alike. To say it happens instantly for *everyone* I think assumes too much.
And as I wrote, I could tell something was amiss straight off, and it wasn't like I was smoking too hot—I know the difference.
And to be even clearer, I am of the opinion that it was a spice or some other ingredient that caused it - this is just my gut talking. But the trouble seemed to start (if I recall correctly) after several puffs. It almost seems as if a whole "clove" or some other spice finally got hit by the fire—it was then that I knew something was really wrong. It's difficult to convey the entire experience with complete accuracy 2 weeks later.
I thought I'd recover over night. The very definition of tongue bite varies depending on who you talk to, but after this and the research I've done, I am reasonably sure this was actual tongue bite.

 

[plet]

In my experience ice, dairy products or other substances is not enough if the harm is already done

 

[timm2]

do short stems add to getting Tongue Bite or cause any harm?

 

[numbersix]

do short stems add to getting Tongue Bite or cause any harm?

From what I've learned, no. It can contribute to tongue burn though.
I don't want to set myself up as some sort of authority, but as far as my own experience and research done, tongue bite is more like an allergic reaction to a type of tobacco or ingredient in it.
The real trouble is the phrase tongue bite is used for a lot of conditions, so that's why I made this post. From reading way more info than I'd like to admit, I think I've got a handle on it.

 

[timm2]

so how do you go about testing a tobacco? is it by filling only a 1/2 a bowl and smoking a little bit of it?

 

[numbersix]

In regards to testing, I am thinking 1/4 bowl tops - not much more. I know this won't be a conclusive test.
This will be a learn as I go process. I may discover over time to just quit the instant something seems even slightly amiss. It's kind of easy to ignore it when a blend seems even a little off and keep puffing - but after going through this, I am extra paranoid.
I may change my tune as time goes on - but I don't want to go through this again. The tobacco was Gotham Court by Pipeworks and Wilke. I can't say enough good things about their blends in general and I am mostly convinced it was an allergic reaction.
I actually traded it with Jah76 (but he wrote above that it had no ill affect on him - which I pretty much expected but warned him anyway).