Contributor: Stephen J. Morgan
We all want to appear presentable whenever we’re around others. I mean, that’s just a given. We don’t want anybody – friends, family, or strangers – to see us as anything less than “clean.” But, even if we dress to the nines, get the best haircut, and have the most aromatic soaps and lotions applied to our person on a regular basis, none of that means anything if we have bad breath.
Ugh. There’s really nothing worse than being the culprit of some stanky oral fumes. It’s the worst. And, while there are a number of varying contributing factors that could be responsible for this less-than-desirable mouth scent, one of the things that causes it more often than not is “smokers breath.”
If you’ve ever wondered, “Does smoking weed cause bad breath?” I’m here to tell you, yes, unfortunately, it kind of does.
I know that can be somewhat of a bummer to many (if not all) of you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the cannabis, itself, is making your tongue smell funky – it’s actually how smoke, in general, makes your mouth feel.
Detailed Look At How Cannabis Can Cause Bad Breath
What I mean by that is, when you smoke weed, you are often left with a dry mouth sensation, more affectionately referred to as “cottonmouth,” in the cannabis community. This occurrence leads to bad breath after smoking weed, because it rids your mouth and tongue of its ever-crucial counterpart, saliva.
For those of you who may be unaware, saliva is basically the lifeforce of the mouth. Its moist nature eliminates many harmful bacteria that may be lingering on your tongue, and adjacent areas. In doing away with those bacteria, it subsequently removes any chance they had of emitting any sort of unpleasant aroma.
However, when you smoke, and are left with a solid case of cottonmouth, that effectively transforms your tongue (and mouth) into a cesspool of breeding bacteria, the likes of which can’t wait to unleash their stink onto your tastebuds.
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It really is a supremely unfortunate side effect of cannabis that many are surprisingly unaware of. But, that said, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to deal with, or even fend off completely. It just takes a little know-how and knowledge in order to avoid any sort of bout with cannabis-related bad breath.
Which is why I’m here to offer up a little series of tips and tricks you could implement into your smoking routine. Each of which would greatly reduce the occurence of bad breath taking place after an enjoyable smoke session.
The first thing you should most definitely consider is what type of smoking medium you usually utilize in order to enjoy cannabis.
For instance, if you only take bong rips, you should clean your piece regularly. Same goes for any sort of pipe, one-hitter, or dab rig. The longer you let that go, the more bacteria will build up, and on every hit, you’ll be inhaling some of that aforementioned grossness, and that would only wreak havoc on your tastebuds. So, do some homework on what products to use in order to adequately clean your most-used pieces, and in doing so, you will be eliminating all of that bad-breath-causing bacteria.
If that doesn’t seem to do the trick, maybe it’s time to reconsider your method of smoking entirely.
Let’s say, you are a blunt-smoker, always have been, always will be. Well, if that’s the case, you are stubbornly condemning yourself to a lifetime of “stink mouth” after every single smoke session you experience. Those sorts of classic mediums, though enjoyable, are much harsher on your throat, and subsequently, your taste buds. Which is why it’s fairly common for a blunt smoker to walk away from a smoke out with a mouthful of tobacco-laden aromatics. And, not for nothing, but that’s not the most alluring smell for people to take in while you talk to them.
So, in this case, I’d say think about vaping, or perhaps just partaking in drops of tincture from time to time. That ought to get you just as high (if not higher than) before, and it’ll eliminate any unwanted bad breath from the situation. Hell, even topical patches or capsules can do the trick. There really is no wrong way to go about it.
Speaking of alternative forms of cannabis, why not give some edibles a try? But, I’m not talking about ones that would pack a serious amount of generic flavor (i.e. sweets or chocolates), as they would leave your tongue in a similar state of affairs if it had enjoyed a hearty meal, sans cannabis.
Any meal, regardless of potency, requires some sort of breath freshening afterwards. So, why not cut out the “middle man,” so to speak, and grab yourself some THC mints! They will deliver a mellow, microdose high, all while they freshen your breath.
I mean, talk about a “win, win,” am I right?
Also, speaking of regular meals and snacks, these THC-free dishes could also be a contributing factor to your cannabis-related bad breath.
Now, I’m sure you’re probably asking yourself, “But…if there’s no cannabis in the food, how could my bad breath be ‘cannabis-related’?”
SEE ALSO: Illinois Plans To Eliminate Over 1,000 Minor Cannabis-Related Convictions
Trust me, I understand that question completely, but ask yourself this: What typically happens after you smoke? You get the “munchies,” right?
Well, that’s basically what I’m referring to here. If you happen to consistently munch on grub that would make anyone’s breath smell bad, you could partially blame cannabis for inducing such a snackworthy appetite onto your stomach. That said, if you find “munchies” are damn near unavoidable, try to steer clear of sugary treats, as these will also leave your mouth dry, which in turn, welcomes more bad-breath-causing bacteria. So, maybe limit yourself to some fruit, or something refreshing along those lines.
Now, even though cottonmouth is almost unavoidable with certain smoking mediums, you can always opt for a smokeless way to enjoy cannabis. That would, effectively, be your best bet in the fight against cannabis-induced bad breath. Which, I’m sure goes without saying.
But, to be honest, no matter how you smoke (or eat) cannabis, you should always be equipped with some sort of breath freshening solution. And, if you’re fortunate enough to be smoking at home, why not hit up the bathroom, and brush those teeth of yours after your session? I mean, that’s a fairly bulletproof way to eliminate any embarrassing, bad-breath-related moments, in my personal opinion.
