Tips for Getting Rid of Unwanted Weed Breath Quickly

Tips for Getting Rid of Unwanted Weed Breath Quickly
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Tips for Getting Rid of Weed Breath

Smoking weed can leave you with a distinct and lasting after-scentthat infamous weed breath. This is caused by the terpenes and other compounds in cannabis lingering in your mouth, throat, and lungs after inhaling. While some may not mind or even enjoy this signature smell, others would prefer for it dissipate faster. Whether trying to be discreet around family or gear up for a date night, smelling like pot long after your high has faded is often less than ideal.

Understanding What Causes Weed Breath

Weed breath occurs due to a few key factors happening when you smoke cannabis:

  • THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids enter your bloodstream via the lungs, leaving trace amounts behind
  • Terpenes coat oral cavities and the throat, clinging to soft tissues
  • Combusted plant material interacts with saliva, becoming trapped
  • Chemicals pass through respiratory systems during exhalation too

Additionally, marijuana can cause cottonmouth and dry mouth, decreasing saliva flow needed to naturally cleanse the mouth. All these factors combined create that distinct herbal funk recognizable on the breath for hours, or even a full day or longer in some cases.

Home Remedies to Banish Weed Breath Quickly

While only time fully rids unwanted cannabis odors, there are remedies you can use to help speed the process. Effective options include:

Chew Thoroughly

Chewing gum, mints, seeds, herbs or other snacks right after smoking stimulates saliva production which helps cleanse your mouth, removes trapped particles, and overrides scents lingering on taste buds and oral tissues.

Drink Plenty of Fluids

Hydrating washes away contaminants left behind, while the motion of continuously swallowing liquids flushes the throat where smells often pool. Water is great, but tea, juice, and other beverages also get the job done.

Brush Teeth, Tongue, and Gargle Mouthwash

Basic oral hygiene goes a long way towards mitigating incriminating odors. Brushing mechanically removes debris and bacteria that contribute to sour breath. Scraping the tongue eliminates trapped particles missed by brushing alone. And antiseptic mouthwashes damage lingering compounds.

Exfoliate with Oil Pulling

Swishing coconut, olive, sesame, or sunflower oil intensely draws out stubborn scents and detoxifies. Spit out after 5-20 minutes then rinse mouth thoroughly afterward.

Freshen Up Nasal Passages

Blowing your nose clears lingering smells trapped inside. Rinsing sinuses using a Neti pot also efficiently purges nasal cavity and upper respiratory tracts.

Mask Scents with Strong Foods

Consuming pungent dishes like garlic sauteed greens, onions, citrus, pickle juice, coffee grinds, or spicy salsa overpowers clinging odors.

Use Activated Charcoal

Ingest charcoal capsules or powders, brush teeth with activated charcoal toothpaste, or gargle an activated charcoal oral rinse to absorb stubborn smells left behind.

Consider a Digestive Deodorizer

Take chlorophyll, parsley, wheatgrass or charcoal supplements which internally neutralize and trap odors released through exhalation.

Preventative Tips for Keeping Weed Breath at Bay

In addition to effectively managing existing cannabis breath, preventing that unwanted scent between smoke sessions is also essential. Useful proactive methods include:

Opt for Alternative Consumption

Vaping extracts or infusing weed into edibles avoids direct combustion and smoke interacting with oral cavities in the first place. This minimizes residual smells left lingering internally.

Use Proper Hygiene & Care for Teeth

Practicing good oral care day-to-day keeps breath fresh always. Brush twice daily, floss thoroughly, use antiseptic rinses, scrape tongue buildup, drink lots of fluids, and get regular dental cleanings.

Rinse After You Smoke

Make a habit of gargling mouthwash, diluted hydrogen peroxide, salt water, green tea, baking soda and water solution, or another cleansing rinse after sessions to instantly purge toxins.

Counteract Cottonmouth

Marijuana notoriously causes dry mouth lowering needed saliva flow. Sip water while smoking, chew gum after, and avoid substances that dehydrate further like caffeine or alcohol.

Clear Particles While Exhaling Hits

Cover bowls when not actively inhaling to block smoke floating around rooms. And exhale slowly downward when taking hits to avoid blowing excess near your face and residual particles reentering airways.

Control Diet & Other Lifestyle Factors

Onions, garlic, spicy cuisine, and more also impact breath so be mindful of intake around times wanting fresher scents. And nicotine products compound unwanted odors clinging internally too.

Adjust Strains & Methods Used

Certain varieties and practices influence odor more than others. Stick to low terpene strains, higher CBD:THC ratios, smaller micro dosed hits, clean pieces, optimal temperature dabs, properly cured buds, and pure options when possible.

When to Seek Professional Help for Bad Breath

Persistent bad breath unrelated to cannabis or typical triggers warrants medical assessment. If you experience ongoing foul odors plus any of the following, consult your healthcare provider:

  • Associated symptoms like mouth pain, dryness, or swelling
  • Changes in breath smell seem unrelated to recent meals or oral hygiene
  • Brushing, flossing, mouthwash and other efforts provide no relief
  • Others frequently comment on breath smell

Ruling out underlying illness is crucial whenever extreme halitosis unrelated to lifestyle, oral health, or temporary exposures persist. Certain diseases, infections, metabolic conditions, cancers, liver or kidney failure, respiratory disorders, and more can trigger severe scents indicating bigger issues.

Professional Breath Treatment Methods

If a doctor determines no dangerous disease and weed breath persists despite best efforts, specialized clinical solutions could help diminish odors, including:

  • A dentist or hygienist may professionally clean teeth and apply prescription strength formulas or long lasting varnish treatments not available over-the-counter.
  • An ear, nose, and throat specialist can examine nasal passages and the throat for accumulations causing smells to linger internally.
  • A gastroenterologist can evaluate connections with digestive components like Heliobacter pylori bacteria triggering halitosis.

Working alongside specialists gets to root causes perpetuating excessive odors helping develop tailored treatment plans when needed.

The Takeaway

If bothersome weed breath persists for longer than you prefer, utilizing home remedies like hydrating, oral hygiene, purging nasal passages, mouthwashes, chewing herbs, oil pulling, activated charcoal, chlorophyll supplements, and pungent foods help accelerate cleansing processes. Preventatively, minimizing smoke exposure to oral membranes via vaping, edibles, covering bowls between inhales, exhaling carefully downwards all mitigate unwanted lingering smells as well. But if efforts fail to provide relief from lasting unwanted odors, seeing a doctor can rule out potential underlying illness or lead you to a specialist able to isolate and treat the culprit perpetuating bad breath long term.

FAQs

What causes weed breath?

Compounds like terpenes, THC, and CBD clinging to oral tissues, becoming trapped in saliva, and passing through respiratory pathways during inhalation and exhalation of cannabis smoke leads to weed breath.

How long does weed breath last?

Weed breath can linger anywhere from a few hours up to 24+ hours depending on the person, strain intensity, quantity consumed, methods used, and oral hygiene. For some, odors last only shortly while others struggle with stale smells clinging a full day later.

Will gum or mints cover up weed breath?

Chewing gum, mints, seeds, herbs and more stimulates saliva helping wash away contaminants. Plus new scents and flavors override and mask unpleasant odors lingering on tastebuds and oral tissues. However, they don’t remove deeply embedded compounds making full cleansing take slightly longer.

When should I see a doctor for help with bad breath?

Consult a medical professional whenever you experience ongoing extreme foul breath plus associated symptoms like mouth pain, swelling or dryness not alleviated by oral hygiene. Persistent extreme odors could indicate underlying illness. Doctors can examine causes and refer you to specialists like dentists, ENTs or gastroenterologists to identify and treat root issues if needed.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.

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