Vapers Tongue Explained

At some point in your vaping life, you're going to experience vaper's tongue. Some vapers are unfortunate enough to suffer the experience twice or even thrice. It's a confusing time that first-time vapers never get to figure out until later on.

What is Vaper’s Tongue?

Vaper’s tongue or flavour fatigue is a sudden loss of taste from your e-liquid flavouring during ordinary vaping. It feels like the vape juice doesn’t have a taste at all. But in some cases, it can be a diminished sense of taste. The juice just tastes different than it did previously. Usually, the vaper's tongue will last for up to three days. But in worst-case scenarios, it will easily last up to two weeks.

What Causes Vaper’s Tongue?

Vaping the same flavour for too long

Several theories attempt to explain the occurrence of vaper’s tongue or flavour fatigue. The most common one is vaping the same flavour for too long. Your tastebuds get accustomed to the flavour, so it doesn’t taste as it once did.

It is a common phenomenon with other stimuli as well. The brain’s sensory system gets used to the smell and taste and reduces the response if exposed to the same taste over a long period.

Damaged taste buds

Smoking, alcohol, extremely sour or spicy foods, infections and some types of medications can damage tastebuds. Although the tastebuds can heal themselves, during this period, you might experience reduced flavour from vape juice. As you get old, your tastebuds will also get weaker. So, your vaper’s tongue could be a sign that father time is catching up.

You recently stopped smoking

As mentioned, smoking can damage your tastebuds. It's not common, but it can happen. If you recently stopped smoking, your tastebuds might still be recovering and going through different phases. This is more likely to happen to vapers who are also smoking occasionally.

Dehydration

Another possible cause of vaper’s tongue is dehydration. If dehydration is the cause, look out for other symptoms like headaches, dark urine and a dry mouth. A glass of water can help you rehydrate and get things back to normal. But don’t forget that dehydration also means you’re losing salts.

Ageing e-liquid

An e-liquid bottle that is past its sell-by date could also be to blame. It's possible that the problem is not your tongue but that your vape liquid has lost its flavour if it has been sitting on the shelf for an extended period.

How to Overcome Vaper’s Tongue

There are various ways you can cut the trend and go back to your tasty vape liquids. Some of these are:

• Changing the flavour – Changing the flavour of the vape liquid can restore balance by resetting the tastebuds. After a few weeks, your old vape liquid should taste amazing.
• End dual vaping – Smoking and vaping at the same time could be the cause of your flavour fatigue. Cutting smoking completely can help your tastebuds heal and restore their full functionality.
• Sucking a lemon and smelling coffee beans – This is a trick that has been used by many vapers. But there is no concrete evidence it works. Those that have tried this method say it ‘resets’ your sense of taste and smell.