Mouth swab drug tests are planned on short notice to detect drug usage. Many products can help you pass different drug tests in a few days, but the question is how to pass a mouth swab drug test, especially when you have such a short time. Right?
Fret no more because, in this article, we will discuss mouth swab drug testing in detail. We will also look into some ways that can help you pass the oral swab drug test.
Why are Mouth Swab Drug Tests So Common?
More employers prefer mouth swab drug tests to ensure workplace safety and to detect recent drug usage that may not suit a particular job. A truck driver or a construction worker’s job could be some of the examples of such jobs.
The most common reason is its detection window and non-invasive nature. Apart from pre-employment tests, there could be other scenarios where you may have to undergo mouth swab drug tests. Some of the cases are as follows:
- Legal proceedings
- DUI checkpoints
- Athletic competitions
- Rehabilitation programs
Understanding the Mouth Swab Drug Test
Let’s understand how a mouth swab works with a step-by-step guide.
Collection
The candidate undergoing the test is provided with a swab that is made of cotton. This is then placed between the cheeks and gums for a minute or two. Hence, the saliva sticks to the swab.
Sample transfer
After collecting the sample from the candidate, the saliva is then transferred into a detection device, strip, or cartridge that can easily detect drugs. This testing strip contains some reagents that react with saliva and detect drug usage.
Analysis
The saliva sample reacts with the given reagent to show a color or a line that can indicate the presence of THC metabolites or other specific drug metabolites. If you have weed in your system, the reagent will change its color. But do you know what color does a saliva drug test turn if you fail? It will turn into a purple and reddish color.
Interpretation and Reporting
Based on the predefined threshold or detection criteria, the personnel administering the drug test creates the report. These are then sealed and sent to employers or law enforcement authorities in different cases.
Types of Saliva Test
It is important to understand that there are different kinds of saliva tests used for different purposes, let’s take a look at them in the following table.
| Types of test | Purpose |
| Hormone test | Used to measure levels of hormones such cortisol, testosterone, etc for menstrual and hormonal imbalance problems. |
| Drug test | It is used to detect drug usage in one’s body. |
| Genetic test | It predicts the genetic mutations that may lead to diseases. |
| Infection test | Usually done to find out infectious diseases like hepatitis. |
Detection Time for Different Substances
Different substances have different detection windows in saliva. There could be multiple reasons, ranging from metabolism to dosage frequency. Let’s discuss the possible and common reasons why a substance can stay in your saliva.
- Metabolism – The speed at which you metabolize a substance impacts how long it stays in saliva.
- Frequency of Use – More frequent use leads to accumulation and longer detection times.
- Dosage – Higher doses mean more substance to be eliminated from saliva.
- Type of Substance – Detection times vary between different drug classes.
- Hydration – Well-hydrated individuals tend to have shorter detection windows.
- Saliva pH – More acidic or alkaline pH affects detection.
- Oral Health – Gum disease and oral infections can retain substances.
- Route of Administration – Ingested drugs tend to stay in saliva longer.
- Individual Variability – Age and genetics impact metabolization rates.
- Body Mass Index – Higher BMI is associated with longer detection times.
- Environmental Factors – Heat and humidity can affect metabolization.
Detection Windows
For a better understanding of the detection window, we can look at the following table:
| Substances | Detection Window | Cut off levels |
| Marijuana | 1-30 days | 1-50 ng/ML |
| Cocaine | 1-4 days | 150 ng/ML |
| Opiates | 2-6 days | 2000 ng/ML |
| Amphetamine | 1-2 days | 500 ng/ML |
| Alcohol | 6-12 hours | 0.02-0.08% BAC |
The term cut-off level simply refers to the minimum amount of substances that must be present for a sample to be considered positive. Let us understand with the help of an example. In case you go for a Marijuana test and the reports find out that the concentration level of marijuana in the sample is between (1-50 ng/ML) range.
The report is positive. However, if, in general, you are appearing for a blood sample test for alcohol, the concentration of alcohol must be less than the specified percentage given in the table. Mouth swab drug test weed timeline is nearly as long as 1-30 days; therefore, as a weed user, you must mask or eliminate toxins from your saliva.
For occasional weed or marijuana users, these levels may not be very high, but if used recently, they may get caught in the test. However, with little effort and some products, you can clean your saliva before the test day. And this is exactly how to pass a drug test with weed in your system.
Test Results and What Do They Indicate
Like other kinds of tests, the saliva test has the same test metric; it could be positive, negative, or inconclusive. Each of them would lead to different implications, which are as follows:
Negative
If you test negative for a saliva drug test, it means that your sample has no or less than a specific amount of drugs in the system. As per the guidelines of different organizations and institutions, you may get screened.
Positive
On the other hand, testing positive means that your sample’s concentration has more than the required amounts of weed or marijuana. Depending on the circumstances, it may have some consequences. Your application may not be considered for a job screening. While for a legal proceeding, the conditions may vary.
Inconclusive
Due to some technical faults in equipment or any other issues, your test may be considered inconclusive. This means that your test is neither positive nor negative. In such a condition, you may have to reappear for the mouth swab test again.
Mouth Swab Drug Test VS Other Test Types
If you think that a mouth swab drug test is the only type of drug test for screenings, you could be wrong. There are a couple of other tests to determine the number of toxic substances in your system. The following table can help compare them sideways with the mouth swab test.
| Factors to consider | Hair Follicle Test | Urine Test | Mouth Swab Test | Blood Test |
| Detection time | 1-90 days | 1-4 days | 1-2 days | 1-2 days |
| Accuracy | Low | High | Low | Highest |
| Detection Range | A broad range of common drugs can be detected | A broad range of common drugs can be detected | Less number of drugs | A broad range of common drugs can be detected |
| Result/Turnaround times | Rapid | Rapid | Rapid | May take some time |
| Usually done for | Workplace | Workplace, DUI, and medical cases | Workplaces | Workplaces, DUI, Law enforcement, etc. |
Attempted Tricks to Beat a Mouth Swab Drug Test
When you have a test coming up in a few days or hours, you are likely to google how to pass a saliva drug test home remedies, or how to pass a mouth swab test in 12 hours. For this, you may get some advice or the most attempted tricks or home remedies to get screened in your mouth swab drug test. To save you time and effort, we have listed some of these methods, which may work for less frequent weed users. However, for regular users, the chances are not just low but highly unlikely.
Maintaining Saliva Production
Fresh saliva production can aid in lowering the concentration of other toxic molecules in your mouth, making it difficult to detect in your saliva sample. Therefore, this remedy may help you. For this, you must drink loads of water to remove toxins and avoid dehydrating liquids like alcohol.
Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene is another way you can reduce the toxin content in your saliva. To do this, you must brush your teeth quite often. Proper brushing reduces the risk of surface contamination and removes contaminants or remains of the oral fluids. Though it may have limited effectiveness, its regular practice is recommended.
Gargling
To eliminate toxins and improve oral hygiene, gargling can be one of the ways to get screened in your mouth swab test. Gargling works the same way as brushing does. It improves the production of fresh saliva. Therefore, you can take it just before appearing for your test.
Most Reliable Way to Pass a Mouth Swab Drug Test
Here are some highly reliable methods that would be quite useful in eliminating THC from your mouth.
Sour Candies
Sour candies have some amount of citric acid. This when mixed with your saliva, improves saliva production and reduces the pH levels. With more sour candies, you can drastically reduce the concentration of metabolites in the sample. Therefore, in many cases, this could work well.
Chewing Gum
Another way of stimulating your glands to produce saliva is by chewing gums. It can also dislodge residue from other things from your tissues and gums. Some of the most effective gum flavors for these could be mint and watermelon. These could also mask bad odors from your mouth.
High-Fat Foods + Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse
Using a hydrogen peroxide rinse can help you treat your mouth infections as well as remove toxins. However, a high concentration of this chemical is not good for your teeth; therefore, make sure you dilute it first and not swallow it.
Mouthwashes to Pass Oral Swab Drug Test
A mouth swab drug test mouthwash is a mixture of ingredients that help you rinse toxins and sometimes mask or eliminate them. Out of many detox types of mouthwash on the market, Toxin Rid Rescue Wash and Stinger Detox Mouthwash are the most popular and used for the saliva detoxification process. Here’s a small piece of information about how they work and their comparison sideways.
Toxin Rid Rescue Wash
This product could be the last-minute solution for eliminating the toxins from your saliva. The best part about this is its size and sanitizer-like look, as it can be concealed anywhere without arousing any suspicion.
Its key ingredients include Magnesium, Glycerin, Witch Hazel, Aloe Vera, and Ascorbic Acid. The magnesium in this mouthwash works by activating enzymes focused on cleaning your mouth.
At the same time, glycerin and ascorbic acid play a key role in oxidizing and neutralizing toxins. Witch hazel, with its astringent properties, aids in cleaning the oral cavity. This makes your saliva clean and devoid of any toxins.
Instructions to use Toxin Rid Rescue Wash
- Take ⅓ of the liquid in your mouth and hold it.
- Wait for three to five minutes.
- Spit the liquid out.
- Chew some gums and brush your teeth.
- Repeat this process for at least 2-3 times.
It’s manufactured by Test Clear and is priced at $29.95.
Stinger Detox Mouthwash
Stinger is commonly used for saliva detox. This works similarly to Toxin Rid Rescue. However, if you closely observe the ingredients of Stinger Detox, they are similar to the Stinger Detox drink. Which means it is not specifically recommended for saliva detox.
As the drink is swallowed instead of expelled, some people argue if it could be classified as a mouthwash. Let’s take a look at some of its ingredients, which are sugar, citric acid, and sodium benzoate. These work in synergy to eliminate toxins from your system.
Instructions to use Stinger Mouthwash
- Take small amounts of the liquid and swirl.
- Keep doing that for 1 minute
- Swallow when it’s finished
It’s manufactured by Sting Detox. The price of this product is $15.
Pros
- Cleans toxins from the system.
- Has a good taste.
- Alcohol-free.
Cons
- Short toxin-free window.
Toxin Rid Rescue Mouthwash vs. Stinger Mouthwash
| Criteria | Toxin Rid Rescue Mouthwash | Stinger Mouthwash |
| Effectiveness | More effective | Less effective |
| Ease of usage | Easy to use | Easy to use |
| Price | A bit higher | Less |
| Toxin free window | Longer toxin-free window (for hours) | Toxin free window is only 30 mins |
Comparing the above criteria, it can be observed that Toxin Rid Rescue definitely has a competitive edge over stinger mouthwash.
FAQs
How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System After a Couple of Puffs?
It purely depends on your metabolism and usage frequency. For an average user, weed could stay in urine for nearly 1-90 days. However, for the mouth and hair, its traces can stay for as long as 1-7 days and 1-90 days, respectively.
What Should I Do Before Appearing For the Mouth Swab Drug Test?
Two hours before appearing for the test, make sure you drink enough water to cleanse your mouth. A few minutes before, you can chew mint chewing gums to ensure your saliva is fresh. Make sure not to eat or chew anything 30 minutes before the test.
Shall I Use Alcohol-Free Detox Mouthwash?
As per various studies, having an alcohol-free mouthwash can be beneficial for teeth color and hardness as well as cleansing your mouth. Therefore, they can be considered for this process too.
Conclusion
So far, we have discussed how to pass a drug test with THC in your system at length. Following the right products and the right steps, you can easily cleanse your mouth and ensure your saliva sample is toxin-free on the test day.
However, some home remedies may or may not work for users with light exposure, but mouthwashes like Toxin Rid are needed to pass the test (especially for heavy users).