In the United States, it is common to undergo the mouth swab drug test for pre-employment or before getting a promotion because the companies need to prove that you are not a heavy weed smoker or a drug addict.
However, this may cause anxiety for marijuana users, whether they are using it for therapeutic use or enjoyment. Therefore, if you are looking for some solutions right now, this article has the answers for you!
Saliva or oral fluids screening test is used to detect drug residues in your system. About the process, the agents will take saliva from the inside of your mouth by using a stick with an absorbent pad or sponge. Then, the sample will be examined for drug toxins and you will get the result instantly.
The oral swab test has become the most popular choice among all kinds of tests in recent years due to its facility and its non-invasive procedure. Besides, the latter doesn’t require any medical expert and can be done in a laboratory or even on-site as well.
When Will I Be Asked for a Saliva Drug Test?
An oral swab test is widely used for the 3 following purposes:
- Pre-employment and employee background test.
- In case of accidents, the police can ask the suspects to undergo a saliva screening to check if they are under the influence of drugs or not.
- Random drug screening in the workplace or at the roadside by the police.
What Can a Saliva Test Detect and for How Long?
Oral fluids screening can provide up to 98% accuracy and it can detect many types of controlled substances as below:
- Marijuana, which contains THC compounds.
- Amphetamines (psychostimulant drugs, well-known as a central nervous stimulant)
- Methamphetamine, an addictive drug with a stimulant effect.
- Phencyclidine (PCP), an illegal drug due to its hallucinatory effect.
- Opioids or opiates include various psychoactive substances like morphine, codeine, heroin, etc.
- Barbiturates (sedative and hypnotic drugs)
- Benzodiazepines (medicine for treating anxiety and insomnia)
- Alcohol
Nevertheless, an oral swab test can screen drug traces for a short period of time only. Let’s say between 5-48 hours after use, depending on the frequency, the period, the concentration of the drug, etc. Thus, if you are a heavy or chronic smoker, the weed likely stays longer in your system than others.
What Should We Do Before Undergoing a Mouth Swab Test?
Below, we have listed 7 useful tips that may help you pass the test. Let’s see them in details:
Drug and Weed Abstinence
First and foremost, you must abstain immediately from cannabis, drugs, and alcohol altogether for at least 2-3 days or longer.
As the toxins will shortly stay in the saliva, unlike blood or urine, they all are possibly absorbed and will not present anymore on a swab test.
Stop Smoking Cigarettes!
For a few days before the test, it is advised to avoid cigarettes as well because smoking might stimulate the mouth’s cells as well as taste buds which will release more oral fluids and more THC substances consequently.
Clean Your Mouth Often
After taking cannabis, the THC compounds will cover the surface of your entire mouth and remain for a few days.
Therefore, it is important to take care of your oral hygiene by brushing your teeth 3-4 times a day in order to remove THC residues as much as possible. Not only the teeth but you should also thoroughly clean your cheek, tongue, and gums.
Drink a Lot of Water
Stay hydrated always works for the detoxification process. A few days prior, you should drink a lot of water because the fluid can flush out unwanted substances through excretion. Moreover, it also helps dilute the THC concentrations until they become untestable as well.
Consume Fatty Foods
Owing to the fact that THC is a fat-soluble substance, consuming a high-fat diet may allow cannabis residues to be absorbed more quickly and save you from a saliva failed drug screening.
However, remember that the THC doesn’t disappear, but it just breaks down into smaller units and resides in the fat cells instead. Thus, this cannot help you from other advanced drug tests like urinalysis screening.
Adulterate Your Saliva
In case you must do a mouth swab in a few hours without any advanced warning, the best solution is to adulterate your saliva.
The well-known adulterant is “hydrogen peroxide” which can be found in some chewing gums and mouthwashes. The latter will quickly clean your mouth, interfere with the test, and may ultimately save you at the last minute.
That said, the effect of adulteration can last about 30 minutes and there is no guarantee that you will pass the drug screening. In conclusion, we recommend this way for emergency cases only.
Use Detoxifying Products
Last but not least, there are also various effective detox kits on the market that are particularly designed for eliminating toxins from your body.
Here are the top 3 brands that have received the highest score from wayofleaf.com:
- PassYourTest.com (9.8 scores)
- Toxin Rid (9.6 scores)
- TestKitPlus (9.4 scores)
And now you already know everything about an oral swab test; what the folks in the lab are looking for, how long you are in the danger zone, as well as how to pass the test.
The safest way is to follow every method above so you can prevent all unfavorable outcomes.
