Coping with cigar aftertaste: No cure in sight for "chronic ashtray mouth"
Here's one for you. Thinking I might have a solution, I got an email from a relatively new cigar smoker who was concerned about the taste left in his mouth after smoking. He was quite clear that he wasn't referring to "the finish," but the taste that remained on his palate long after the cigar was out, which he described as "a liquefied-tar taste" that made his mouth feel like it had "been used as the ashtray."
"I have read many blogs and forums, offering various reactions from 'during, drink coffee,' to 'afterwards, drink something citrusy like Schweppes Bitter Lemon or tonic water,' to 'embrace your cigar-breath - get used to it!'," he wrote. Apparently, he tried all of the above with little or no relief, and added that it may have to do with how taste buds vary from person to person. (I'm also inclined to believe it has more to do with physiology.)
In my reply I told him that I've experienced "ashtray mouth" myself on occasion, but most often I'm just trying to get rid of the taste of a bad cigar. I've tried everything from drinking lemonade, to mints, to chocolate bars, to rinsing with mouthwash. Mouthwash actually seems to work pretty well, but not the Scope or Listermint kind. I like Tom's of Maine. It's natural, has no alcohol, and leaves a nice fresh taste in your mouth. I also use a tongue scraper each night after brushing (there's an image for you), but by then, any trace of tobacco taste from earlier in the day is usually already gone.
My office roommate and co-copywriter, Hayward says, "Just plain eat something. Chewing spearmint gum also does the trick for me."
Although there may be no cure for cigar smokers who suffer from chronic ashtray mouth, at least there are some ways to alleviate it.
Your thoughts?
"I have read many blogs and forums, offering various reactions from 'during, drink coffee,' to 'afterwards, drink something citrusy like Schweppes Bitter Lemon or tonic water,' to 'embrace your cigar-breath - get used to it!'," he wrote. Apparently, he tried all of the above with little or no relief, and added that it may have to do with how taste buds vary from person to person. (I'm also inclined to believe it has more to do with physiology.)
In my reply I told him that I've experienced "ashtray mouth" myself on occasion, but most often I'm just trying to get rid of the taste of a bad cigar. I've tried everything from drinking lemonade, to mints, to chocolate bars, to rinsing with mouthwash. Mouthwash actually seems to work pretty well, but not the Scope or Listermint kind. I like Tom's of Maine. It's natural, has no alcohol, and leaves a nice fresh taste in your mouth. I also use a tongue scraper each night after brushing (there's an image for you), but by then, any trace of tobacco taste from earlier in the day is usually already gone.
My office roommate and co-copywriter, Hayward says, "Just plain eat something. Chewing spearmint gum also does the trick for me."
Although there may be no cure for cigar smokers who suffer from chronic ashtray mouth, at least there are some ways to alleviate it.
Your thoughts?
Comments
Spearmint gum is good too, but I've found the "mouth freshening" kind, like Orbit, works best.
Hope this works for you.
Rev. J.
If I need a quick masking of ash mouth,Starbucks gum works the best.
So brush, scrape your tongue and rinse with Listerine or your favorite mouthwash. I usually do this before bed, then again in the morning with great results...keeps the wife happy!