Bong & Dab Rig Drool: Tips to avoid a slobbery mess

Bong or Dab Rig Drool is real, it's when you start to drool as you begin taking your dab, it can be annoying and interrupt your dab while also making your pipe dirty and pretty nasty for the person it's passed to. 

Bong drool and what can be done to avoid it. 

The mouthpiece shape, diameter size and angle of a dab rig is crucial in preventing bong drool. A mouthpiece that is as close to a 90 degree angle, or parallel to the ground and is able to be sealed with your lips when pursed, is ideal in preventing bong drool. 

A great mouthpiece allows for a perfect lip seal, what is a perfect lip seal and why does it matter so much?

There are two main benefits of the perfect seal, first the perfect seal allows for no wasted inhalation, facilitating a smooth, effortless and extremely reactive inhalation experience. Secondly the perfect seal also prevents the dreaded mouthpiece drool, now whether you will admit it or not, this has happened to us all. A perfect seal means your lips are tightly sealed on the dab rig and no air is accidentally coming in that is not from outside the dab rig. A great part of this is that you can use your lips as a natural carb, by slightly changing the seal you can drag air in from outside of the rig, changing the pull and vapor to air mixture for a smoother dab. 

How does the mouthpiece angle play a role in bong drool?

Try this for a moment, tilt your head down, purse your lips like you would on a dab rig and begin to inhale. Do you feel that drool trying to make a break for it? Sliding down the inside of your mouth and about to escape? 

This is what makes straight dab rig mouthpieces that much more likely to cause bong drool. Angled mouthpieces help prevent bong drool while also allowing for a better line of sight to the banger, dab nail or bowl, for a better understanding as the session is going. You can easily watch how the wax is vaporizing and how the terp pearls are acting to aid in a more efficient dab.

How does the mouthpiece diameter play a role in bong drool?

Wider mouthpiece diameters also cause more saliva buildup. A wider rim results in more lip contact which causes more gland activation and results in more saliva. This is similar to how sucking on a straw vs. a wide cup rim feels different in your mouth. With a narrow mouthpiece your lips are pursed which helps keep saliva in.

There are a few other factors to consider when understanding bong drool. 

1. Certain terpenes and flavors naturally stimulate the salivary glands just like some candy flavors. High terpene concentrates increase saliva, especially strains that contain citrus terpenes like limonene which comes from lemons. 
2. Airflow matters, restricted airflow forces harder pulls which results in more salvia buildup.
   Whether its tight airflow due to improper carb cap pairing, or a completely clogged dab rig due to reclaim buildup, restricted airflow will cause more saliva buildup. 
3. Water level matters, the more resistance the more drool. Splashback is also a concern and can cause severe salivation if the splashback hits your lips or mouth. Using the proper amount of water is always helpful for a more efficient dab and can also help prevent splashback as well as the dreaded drool! Some dab rigs specifically come with splashguards, while a bent neck is also helpful in reducing splashback.
4. Believe it or not, slouching can also cause more saliva buildup so sitting straight with your shoulders back can help prevent excess saliva buildup.