Taste buds are shot... what to do to get them working again?

[phalaeo]

So, I've got what I've heard other people call "vaper mouth" and I'd appreciate your advice.

My normal preferences are Maples, RY4s, Waffles, and I've ordered from about 5 companies so far. I can taste them the first few puffs, but they all start to taste the same, which is frustrating.

I've heard that I should switch up my flavours every once in a while, which I did. Tried Cherry, Strawberry Lemonade, Pineapple.... a host of other "fruit" type flavours and BLECCCHH! I hate them all. I'm trying to get some of them to steep a bit more, but the initial flavour profile was so gross and candy-like... well, I guess I'll give those a good few weeks, but I'm doubtful I'll like them.

Next move was to try a bunch of bakery flavours from different companies, but I'm getting the same problem I had with the RY4s, and Maples. First few puffs off a fresh carto are good, but then they all start tasting either the same, or like nothing. I even went so far as to buy two bottles of straight DIY flavours to add to my bottles to punch up the flavours and.... nothing! Right now I've got about 7-8 cartos going, all with different juices in them.

I quit on February 4th. I thought this would be over by now. Any advice? How often do you guys switch up your flavours?

Thanks, you guys and gals are great!

 

[vsummer1]

How is your water intake? If my flavor falls I know to drink more water.

Sometimes brushing my teeth, or eating something helps too. But usually water fixes all.

 

[Monk33]

So, I've got what I've heard other people call "vaper mouth" and I'd appreciate your advice.

My normal preferences are Maples, RY4s, Waffles, and I've ordered from about 5 companies so far. I can taste them the first few puffs, but they all start to taste the same, which is frustrating.

I've heard that I should switch up my flavours every once in a while, which I did. Tried Cherry, Strawberry Lemonade, Pineapple.... a host of other "fruit" type flavours and BLECCCHH! I hate them all.

Next move was to try a bunch of bakery flavours from different companies, but I'm getting the same problem I had with the RY4s, and Maples. First few puffs off a fresh carto are good, but then they all start tasting either the same, or like nothing. I even went so far as to buy two bottles of straight DIY flavours to add to my bottles to punch up the flavours and.... nothing! Right now I've got about 7-8 cartos going, all with different juices in them.

I quit on February 4th. I thought this would be over by now. Any advice? How often do you guys switch up your flavours?

Thanks, you guys and gals are great!

it seems like you have a good rotation of juices going on. Are you getting sick? is your body not well? because you can also get vaper's tongue when you're sick. Are you getting enough water in your body because vapor absorbs water out of the air and could be causing a film/slime to coat your tongue so you're not tasting the flavor as much. I understand the frustration of vaper's tongue, makes me want to go back to just regular analogs.

 

[LucentShadow]

I had the same problem when I was starting out vaping. I determined that the average amount of flavoring used in e-liquids was simply too strong for me, and basically overloading my tastebuds. I guess that I've never been terribly dependent upon the flavor for vaping satisfaction, though.

After I started making my own juice with lighter flavoring, I've never had the problem again. Seems odd, I know, but I'd guess that many would get used to lighter flavoring if they tried it.

I'd suggest getting some unflavored e-liquid to give your buds a break when it happens, at least.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-liquid-discussion/388136-unflavored.html

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/diy-e-liquid/395081-unflavored-nicotine-great-vape.html

There are a bunch of threads where people relate their experience trying it. Above are a couple of recent ones.

 

[zipflint]

This happens to me a lot, especially during spring and fall, due to allergies. I'm also on a lot of medications that have this as a side effect.

I drink lots of water anyway and that has never done much for me. But, somewhat oddly, plain lettuce helps. I eat it by the handful all throughout the day.

Also, I used to vape only one e-liquid at a time, on only one device at a time. Now, I always have two things at hand. Usually something sweet-ish and something tart-ish. And by tart, I mean something like Poison from rawrvapor, or Long Bottom Leaf from epipemods. And sometimes something fruity. I only vape menthol stuff when I'm congested beyond the point of tasting ANYthing.

I hope that helps. Vaper's tongue can drive ya keeeeerayzay.

 

[molli]

Sorry for the hijack..but..is that a species Phal in your avatar? I love the species.

 

[serenity21899]

Biotene works, too. It takes a couple of months for it to clear up. For awhile the only thing I could taste was cinnamon. It's frustrating, but it does pass.

 

[hvac999]

I agree with having two flavors on hand. I ALWAYS have two carto tanks on hand and alternate every other vape. It did wonders for me. I still do it even though I don't really get vapor's tongue anymore.

 

[DJ RyckRak]

In between flavors, I usualy vape awhile on 'Pineapple Ice'.
It has a cool exhale...like mint ...but not a menthol.
It contains 'koolata'...seems to refresh and reset my taste.

 

[Kahuna]

Yeh this topic comes up a lot. With it comes with a bunch of anectdotal advice, most are silly and have no basis on biology (akin to getting an injury in gym class and your coach telling you to just rub some dirt on it). Your tastebuds and tongue have nothing to do with your "olfactory fatigue". It has to do with your nasal passage where your flavors are sensed. So a slight headcold can impair your ability to taste your flavors. One ECFer I talked to discovered that she had a slight allergy to milkweed (enough to have post nasal drip, but not enough to have the full blown watery eyes, sneezing, etc) and she gained her sense of taste after she got rid of them. "Olfactory fatigue" is when you have nothing wrong with your nasal passage, but your olfactory receptors have acclimated to whatever you are vaping. It's the same way a dairy farmer no longer notices the smell of his farm, when you or I notice it immediately, their senses have acclimated to a regular odor.

So, how to remedy it. Mouthwashes, drinking sour drinks, etc, don't really address the problem. they may however hydrate you more, which helps because the olfactory sensor works best when hydrated. But chemically, a way to "reset" your senses, is to shock them. That's why people report that changing vapes to a radically new flavors can help. But there is a technique that people (like perfumists, wine crafters, tobaconists, etc) have used for hundreds of years to reset their sense of smell: coffee. Just open a can/bag of freshly ground coffee and inhale deeply, several times. I won't go into the exact chemical process that occurs, but it's more effective and more pleasant than using smelling salts (ammonium carbonate, which is also poisonous in prolonged usage!) which I HIGHLY CAUTION against using.

hope that helps. cheers.

 

[XeniaMike]

I've had this off and on, and I think Kahuna is right on that. I've found it starts out great with a flavor, but fades if I try to vape it all day. Get up the next morning and it's great again. Good suggestion on the coffee too, I love that smell.

 

[tammyh]

How many people just ran to their kitchen to snort their coffee?

 

[Faylool]

I used that smelling coffee thing somewhat effectively while DIYing. Also read sucking a cinnamon candy can help a little. I do that often because my nose is on again off again. But I have to remember sucking candies a lot can't be good for my teeth. Maybe sugarless? Or cinammon tooth pics?

 

[madstabber]

brush your tongue with your toothbrush, if you have a sonicare toothbrush even better.

 

[AttyPops]

Yeah, and the nic deadens the nerves a bit too...vaping isn't the same as smoking...a lot of the nic is absorbed in the mouth/nose/throat. Diminished sense of taste is commonly reported with lozenges and gum too. Also your body is clearing out the toxins from smoking...often leading to mild "cold like" symptoms that can cause nasal/throat irritation too as your body adjusts.

The good news is that your sense of taste and smell is likely to improve over time and be better than when you smoked. So you'll get over it.

 

[Kahuna]

Sorry, but, brushing your tongue addresses nothing in this concern. Your taste buds taste only 5 things: sweet, salty, sour, sweet, and umami. These are direct senses to chemical stimuli. Your nasal passage uses both chemical detection and sense memory.

 

[1950 HAM]

How many people just ran to their kitchen to snort their coffee?

I wanted to but my cat just crawled onto my lap and I don't have the heart to disrupt her just yet, but she's just gonna have to move soon.

 

[wyetterp]

I bought some zinc vitamins & that helped me a lot. I can't remember where I heard it,
but I found out that when quitting you go through a mineral deficiency that causes your
taste buds to fall flat. It helped me tremendously.

I know what your going through. Don't miss those times at all. Very frustrating. Hang in
there. It gets better!

 

[nightfell]

I've had it happen to myself as well. Sometimes it truly is a tasting issue, brushing my teeth, tongue, and roof of my mouth helps.

As has already been talked about, what we think is taste a lot of times really is scent related. The coffee trick does help. I also use a saline nasal spray. Also the water drinking as others have talked about.


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[eikon]

I used that smelling coffee thing somewhat effectively while DIYing. Also read sucking a cinnamon candy can help a little. I do that often because my nose is on again off again. But I have to remember sucking candies a lot can't be good for my teeth. Maybe sugarless? Or cinammon tooth pics?

cinnamon toothpicks sound like a good idea, sugar-free candy is akin to decaf coffee & non-alcoholic beer, what's the point. Also, more than a couple sugar free hard candies can, well, shall we say, negatively effect the digestive system...

found a quick article on Traditional French Palate Cleansers, interesting, but what do the French know about flavor???

How many people just ran to their kitchen to snort their coffee?

A nice line of a good turkish ground light city roast coffe is a wonderful way to start the day. Saves time too...