VAPER’S TONGUE: WHY IT HAPPENS AND HOW TO CURE I
Have you ever encountered a situation in which you found your favourite e-liquid difficult to taste? You may have experienced a condition that the members of the vaping community have called “vaper’s tongue.” Vaper’s tongue is also sometimes called “vape tongue,” and it’s a form of olfactory fatigue that makes it difficult for you to taste the subtle notes in your vape juice. It can happen because of how you’re vaping or because of the type of e-liquid that you’re using.
If you’re dealing with vape tongue, you’re in the right place because this guide will discuss some effective strategies that can help you cure it more quickly. Let’s jump in.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Vaper’s tongue is a form of olfactory fatigue that makes your e-liquid difficult to taste.
It usually goes away on its own after a few days. Consider using unsweetened e-liquid in the meantime.
You can sometimes resolve vaper’s tongue more quickly by using a palate cleanser or brushing your teeth.
WAIT A FEW DAYS FOR THE VAPER’S TONGUE TO RESOLVE ITSELF
The most important thing to understand about vape tongue is that you needn’t be terribly worried about it. Vaper’s tongue isn’t dangerous, and most people find that it resolves itself in a few days. The only side effect is that vaping won’t be quite as enjoyable for a while. We’ll discuss some ideas in this guide that might help you resolve the issue more quickly, but you can also do nothing at all if you prefer. Your vaper’s tongue will most likely go away on its own.
STOP CHANGING E-LIQUID FLAVOURS SO OFTEN
Vaper’s tongue is similar to the olfactory fatigue that you might experience when you visit a perfume counter at a department store. After you’ve sampled a few different scents, they all start to smell the same. The same thing can happen with vaping if you switch between flavours constantly – which is especially likely to happen if you’re using a vape designed for flavour switching like the IVG Air 4 in 1 or the SKE Crystal 4 in 1. Are you the type of vaper who changes flavours every few minutes? Try picking just one favourite flavour and sticking with it until your vape tongue goes away.
TRY A FLAVOURLESS E-LIQUID
Most people experience vaper’s tongue because of constant flavour switching, but it’s also possible to trigger olfactory fatigue from constant use of a single vape juice with a strong flavour. You’ve encountered a similar situation if you’ve ever suddenly had difficulty smelling your favourite perfume or cologne. In this case, changing flavours is the best solution. One way to handle this situation is by switching to an e-liquid with a milder flavour. You might find it even more effective, in fact, to use a flavourless e-liquid instead. There’s no reason to use an expensive premium e-liquid if you can’t taste it anyway, and unflavoured e-liquid may function as a palate cleanser that helps you cure your vape tongue more quickly.
USE A PALATE CLEANSER
Speaking of palate cleansers, people who experience vaper’s tongue often find that they can fix it by consuming the same types of foods and drinks that they might use to cleanse their palates between meal courses. Some popular palate cleansers include:
Fresh parsley
Lemon wedges
Black coffee
Unsweetened black, green or herbal tea
Still or sparkling water, with a squeeze of lemon or lime added if desired
Pickled vegetables such as ginger
Unsweetened or lightly sweetened sorbet
Green apples
Celery
Unsalted crackers
Plain white bread
Unsweetened dark chocolate
If you’re finding it difficult to taste the subtle notes in your e-liquid and happen to have one of these palate cleansers on hand, give it a try. You may find that it makes a difference.
Don’t forget that your sense of smell also influences your ability to taste. Sometimes, perfume counters will have coffee grounds available for people to smell between fragrances. The strong scent can help to reset your olfactory system and make subtle notes easier to notice. If you’re having trouble tasting your e-liquid or are about to switch to a new flavour, consider smelling coffee grounds to give yourself a quick reset.
SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT VAPING DEVICE
Do you have more than one vaping device available? Sometimes, switching to a different vape can help to resolve a case of vaper’s tongue – even if you continue using the same e-liquid flavour. Vapes have subtle differences in their mouthpiece shapes and airflow characteristics. Those differences change the way that the vapour hits your palate, which can subtly change the way you interpret the flavour. If your tongue is burned out from intense vaping, waking it back up could be as simple as switching to one of your spare devices.
DRINK MORE WATER
Is your e-liquid the only thing that you’re having difficulty tasting, or are you experiencing the same issue with foods and drinks? If you’re having trouble tasting anything at all, you should start thinking about your vaper’s tongue in broader terms. The problem could be as simple as a lack of proper hydration. One of the potential symptoms of dehydration is a diminished ability to taste.
If you’re not drinking enough water, vaping can compound the issue because the two main ingredients of e-liquid – propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine – both have the ability to absorb and retain water. Dry mouth, in fact, is commonly reported as a side effect of vaping by people who aren’t drinking sufficient liquid when they vape. When you’re vaping, always keep a glass of water nearby.
EXERCISE GOOD ORAL HYGIENE
The next time you think you might have a case of vaper’s tongue, try running your tongue over your teeth. Do they feel smooth and clean, or has it been a while since the last time you brushed them? If you haven’t brushed your teeth recently, you’ll find everything more difficult to taste – not just your e-liquid.
Don’t forget that it’s also a good idea to brush your teeth after consuming foods or drinks with sugar. The film that sugar leaves on the inside of your mouth can affect your ability to taste everything, so brushing your teeth isn’t just good for your oral health – it can also help you avoid vape tongue. You may also find it helpful to use a tongue scraper.
CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF ILLNESS
If you find that none of the other suggestions in this article help you resolve your case of vaper’s tongue, it might be a good idea to evaluate how you feel overall. Is it possible that you might be ill? If you’re sick, it’s obviously going to affect your sense of taste and has nothing to do with vape tongue. You’ll probably find that most things won’t taste the way they should until you start to feel better.
Don’t forget that some over-the-counter and prescription medications can interfere with your ability to taste. If you’re on a medication due to your illness, you might want to check the medication’s possible side effects before worrying that you might have a case of vape tongue.
REPLACE YOUR COIL OR POD
Vaper’s tongue isn’t the only thing that can make your e-liquid difficult to taste – you might experience a similar issue if you’re using an old coil or pod that hasn’t been replaced in a while. The sweeteners and other ingredients in your vape juice leave residue on your coil, and the residue eventually reduces the coil’s flavour quality.
If you’re new to vaping or are using your first refillable vape, it’s possible that you’re unfamiliar with the effects that an old coil has on flavour quality and are misinterpreting the issue as a case of vaper’s tongue. Although an old coil can make your e-liquid hard to taste, it isn’t the same type of issue because your e-liquid’s normal flavour will come back as soon as you’ve replaced the coil or pod.
Here’s how you can tell that your vape is due for a new coil.
When the residue has just begun to form on the coil, you’ll notice a slightly exaggerated sweetness when you vape. The sweetness may make the subtle flavour notes in your e-liquid harder to taste.
When the residue becomes thicker, you’ll start to taste a smoky and caramelised flavour. At this point, you’ll probably only taste the strongest flavour notes in your e-liquid.
When the residue layer is very thick, you’ll taste a flavour that’s burnt, smoky and harsh. At this point, you’ll definitely need to replace your pod or coil because the flavour will start to become overwhelmingly unpleasant.
If you’re new to vaping, it’s important to know that the sweeter your e-liquid is, the more quickly residue will form on your coil. If your e-liquid is very sweet, in fact, you may find yourself spending quite a bit of money on replacement coils or pods. If you want your coils or pods to last longer, try using unsweetened e-liquid.