Curious about foods and drinks to avoid before a swab drug test?
There's nothing worse than the anxiety of a drug test only to find out that certain foods and drinks could impact your results. The good news is you can avoid this dreaded test fails by avoiding these foods that could create unexpected false positives and cost you the job.
But…
Even the most innocent foods and drinks can create false positives or interfere with the results of your mouth swab drug test. While a properly administered oral drug test is accurate up to 97%, certain foods can create inaccurate test results.
In This Article
- What Is a Mouth Swab Drug Test?
- Why Certain Foods and Drinks Affect the Results of a Mouth Swab Drug Test
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid Before a Mouth Swab Drug Test
- Smart Tips to Prepare for Your Mouth Swab Drug Test in a Few Hours
What Is a Mouth Swab Drug Test?
A mouth swab drug test (or oral fluid or saliva drug test) screens an individual's saliva for drugs and other substances. Drug tests that are done using a urine sample can be tampered with, or potentially faked. A mouth swab drug test can't be tampered with because the specimen is collected in the presence of the collector.
In the Mouth Swab Drug Test Process
The cotton swab is placed in the mouth to collect saliva from the cheeks and gums. The sample is then tested for drugs and drug metabolites either at the site or by sending it to a lab. A recent report showed that the percentage of positive workplace drug tests reached a 16-year high in 2019 with 4.5%.
The window of detection for an oral drug test is typically much shorter than for urine and hair drug tests. For most drugs, the window is only 5 to 48 hours, although this depends on the drug and the dosage.
You can visit https://www.woburnaddictiontreatment.com/best-tips-on-how-to-pass-mouth-swab-test-in-12-hours/ to keep yourself informed about swab drug tests.
Why Certain Foods and Drinks Affect the Results of a Mouth Swab Drug Test
You might be asking… How can food impact a drug test?
The truth is that the pH level of your mouth is a major factor in the test result. Eating certain foods causes a change in the acidity of your mouth and saliva which can either cover up drug residues or create false positives which make you look like a drug user when you're not.
Some foods have compounds found in illegal drugs or can interfere with the testing process itself by changing the chemical composition of your saliva.
Crazy right?
Foods and Drinks to Avoid Before a Mouth Swab Drug Test
Okay, let's cut to the chase. Here are the foods and drinks you need to avoid before your mouth swab drug test:
Poppy Seeds
Talk about a pain in the neck, this one's the absolute worst offender of them all.
Poppy seeds are the seedpod of the opium poppy and can easily make you test positive for opiates like morphine and codeine. Even a simple poppy seed bagel can make you look like a drug user.
Foods to Avoid Include:
- Poppy seed bagels
- Muffins with poppy seeds
- Poppy seed cakes
- European pastries
- Everything seasoning blends
The scary part is that, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, codeine and morphine can still be detectable in the urine of those who consume poppy seeds for up to 48 hours. If you get a mouth swab drug test, this could be even more of a problem since the test is used to detect recent use.
Citrus Fruits and Acidic Foods
While citrus fruits might seem like a no-brainer, acidic foods can impact your drug test in more ways than you might expect.
Why it Matters: Acidic foods lower the pH in your saliva which can have an impact on how drugs are detected. Some people think the acidity will help "cleanse" your mouth but it actually just makes detection a little more unpredictable.
Foods to Avoid:
- Lemons and limes
- Grapefruit
- Oranges
- Vinegar-based foods
- Sour candies
- Pickles
Dairy Products
Cow milk creates a coating on your teeth and in your mouth that can interfere with the collection of your saliva sample.
The coating can trap drug residues or make it difficult for the collector to obtain a clean sample from the mouth. It's best to avoid all dairy products for several hours before the test.
Alcohol-Containing Products
Even trace amounts of alcohol on the swab can trigger a positive result on some drug tests.
Sources of Alcohol to Watch For:
- Vanilla extract
- Mouthwash
- Liquid medications
- Fresh bread (due to fermentation)
- Pizza dough
Energy Drinks and Caffeine
Energy drinks can contain compounds that will interfere with drug testing.
Energy drinks, especially those that contain "advanced brain nutrients" or similar ingredients, can contain ingredients that cross-react with a drug test. It's also important to note that caffeine can alter saliva production which can potentially concentrate drug metabolites in your saliva.
Smart Tips to Prepare for Your Mouth Swab Drug Test in a Few Hours
Okay now that you know what not to eat before your drug test, here's how to effectively prepare and pass a mouth swab test in 12 hours with these quick tips:
The 10 Minute Rule
Most testing facilities will require you to abstain from food and drinks for 10 minutes before the test. Smart test-takers take a longer buffer time.
What is recommended is to stop eating and drinking (except water) at least 30 minutes before the test.
Oral Hygiene Is Key
Good oral hygiene can help to remove drug residues from the mouth.
Make sure to do a good job of:
- Brushing your teeth
- Brushing your gums and tongue
- Flossing to get trapped particles
- Rinsing with water (avoid mouthwash with alcohol)
Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate
Drinking water can help to dilute the concentration of drugs in your saliva. Plus water encourages your body to produce fresh saliva which will have a lower concentration of drug residues.
Avoid too much water though. Drinking an excessive amount of water right before the test can make your sample too diluted.
Timing is Everything
Meal timing in the days before your test can make a big difference.
72 hours before your test: cut out all poppy seeds
24 hours before your test: cut out all acidic and dairy foods
2 hours before your test: stop eating 30 minutes before: only water allowed
Know Your Rights
Knowing the process ahead of time will help to protect you from potential unfair treatment.
If you get a positive result that you know is incorrect, you have the right to request a retest. If this is the case, it can be helpful to have a record of all the foods and drinks you consumed in the days leading up to your test.
Wrapping It Up
Avoiding the wrong foods and drinks before a mouth swab drug test is not only about passing. It's also about getting the most accurate test results.
The biggest food culprits to avoid are poppy seeds (the most common cause), acidic citrus fruits, dairy products and any drinks that have alcohol.
The best overall strategy is to stop eating all suspect foods at least 72 hours before the test. Make sure to do good oral hygiene, stay hydrated with water and follow the 10-minute rule for not eating and drinking before the test.
By following the right guidelines, you can give yourself the best chance at the most accurate test results. After all, accurate drug testing is about protecting everyone.
