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What is often difficult for beginners to grasp is that there is more than one way to vape. On vaping websites, the expressions mouth to Lung (short: MTL) and direct to Lung (DTL) are often distinguished. MTL means “mouth to lungs,” while DTL can be translated as “direct to the lungs.” If you are still having trouble understanding what exactly is meant by this, we want to help you with this article. Not only will we explain exactly what the printouts mean, but we will also explain how to choose the right breathing technique for you in a small guide for all beginners and advanced vapers. Finally, we will also turn to the technical side and provide product recommendations that suit each vape technique.
A brief vaping glossary
What is MTL?
Mouth to Lung describes a very specific breathing technique. You initially only draw the vapor from an e-cigarette into your mouth when using MTL. You then hold the vapor in your mouth and throat for a moment or even a few seconds before inhaling deeper and allowing it to travel to your lungs.
What is DTL?
Direct to Lung is a breathing technique that draws the vapor directly into the lungs when vaping. In contrast to the MTL technique, the vapor is not kept in the mouth. Instead, imagine taking a deep breath when you start the e-cigarette. This way, you ensure that the vapor is fully inhaled.
Is there a mixture of both?
Even though MTL and DTL are the two most important breathing techniques when vaping, some mixed techniques combine both. In the end, each vaper has a technique that differs from the original methods. In any case, when vaping, the vapor passes through the mouth and then into the lungs. However, because the terms mouth to Lung and direct to Lung are so common among vapers, it makes sense to become familiar with them. But also, to ensure that you choose the right device based on your preferences, it is advisable to deal with the topic.
Which technique is the right one?
For more flavor when vaping.
Some vapers are convinced that the MTL technique gives them a more intense taste experience. For example, this may be because there is generally less air in the vapor when it is first drawn into the mouth. In addition, the vapor in the mouth has a longer opportunity to reach the taste buds on the tongue. If the taste is very important to you when vaping, you should pay attention to the technology and choose a pleasant flavor and an e-liquid that contains a little more propylene glycol.
For more cloud production when vaping.
Many vapers like the strong vapor production and want to breathe out big clouds. It makes sense to vape with the DTL technique for a particularly large amount of vapor production since less vapor is absorbed in the mouth.
For beginners
Most vapers prefer the MTL technique and inhale the vapor into their mouth first. This technique is particularly suitable for somewhat narrower devices, i.e., let less air through. Choosing a liquid with a stronger nicotine level and more throat hit also makes sense. Some people have already noticed clear similarities to smoking with this technique. Drawing the vapor into your mouth can provide a much more intense vapor experience. If you are not prepared for it or were not used to the strong vapor before, you may have to cough as a reaction to it. But this reaction should subside quickly.
How to apply the vapor techniques
If you want to try it out now but have no idea how to make your first steps with these vapor techniques, we have now written a short guide for Mouth to Lung and Direct to Lung.
This is how MTL works.
With MTL technology, the e-cigarette is held to the lips as usual. A gentle, steady puff should now be taken to draw the vapor into your mouth. Inhalation usually takes much longer than it would take with a conventional cigarette, for example. The vapor will now be held in your mouth for a while. The next step is inhaling more to draw the vapor into the lungs before exhaling again.
This is how DTL works.
If you have an e-cigarette that allows you to regulate the airflow, the first step in pursuing the DTL technique should be to open the vents here as wide as possible. This allows for more airflow, and you can take a deeper puff from the e-cigarette. The e-cigarette is also brought to the lips before a long, and even breath is taken directly into the lungs. Beginners can easily imagine just taking a deep breath; this is the easiest way for DTL to work.
Which e-liquid is best?
Depending on which technique you prefer, another e-liquid is more suitable. We want to explain this and which liquids are better suited for which vapor technique.
E-Liquids for MTL
Typically, vapers use the Mouth Lung technique to opt for a liquid with a particularly high percentage of PG (Propylene Glycol). This substance provides the throat hit that some vapers find very satisfying and is, therefore, more suitable for the MTL technique. E-liquids with a 50/50 mix ratio between VG and PG are ideal. Here you will find a base perfect for mixing yourself.
E-Liquids for DTL
Those who prefer to draw the vapor directly into their lungs usually use an e-liquid with a higher percentage of VG (vegetable glycerin). In doing so, the entire vaping experience becomes smoother, and there is not too much throat hit, while at the same time, the vapor production is supported. Mixing ratios of 70:30 or 80:20 are quite common here.
The right nicotine strength
The vape experience, especially for beginners, depends very much on the nicotine content of the liquid used. Nicotine can have nasty side effects when consumed incorrectly, compounded by the vaping technique. Accordingly, we would like to explain which nicotine strength best suits the technique.
Nicotine strength for MTL
The nicotine level you choose for MTL should be based on your needs. If, for example, the vaper has recently stopped smoking and smoked regularly during this time, a correspondingly higher nicotine level is required to satisfy the need. As a general rule, one can also remember that more nicotine should be chosen for the mouth-to-lung technique than for DTL. Most vapers quickly find out the optimal dosage with little trial and error.
Nicotine strength for DTL
If you draw the vapor directly into the lungs, a generally more powerful device is usually used, which can produce more vapor simultaneously. Consequently, this means that nicotine intake is increased. Accordingly, less nicotine is required for DTL vaping than for MTL technology. Too much nicotine can also cause an unpleasant throat hit with this vape variant, which means many vapers prefer a lower dosage. Many vapers prefer DTL vaping and use very low nicotine strengths of 0.3%, 0.6%, or even just 0%. For those looking to switch from MTL to DTL, it’s important to know that the latter technique involves inhaling significantly more vapor and should consider that. Switching from e-liquid with 1.2% nicotine to even as little as 0.3% is not uncommon and can provide the same satisfying effect.
The use of coils
There are coils inside the e-cigarette. These heat up during vaping and thus transform the e-liquid into the desired vapor. However, there are also differences with coils, especially in their resistance. Coil resistance is measured in ohms. You can remember that coils with a higher resistance consume less power but produce less vapor. Coils with low resistance (one often speaks of sub-ohm vaping here, i.e., vaping with a resistance of less than one Ohm), on the other hand, require more power and battery power but also generate significantly more vapor.
If you want to vape with the MTL technology, you usually only want a low vapor production. Therefore, a coil with higher resistance of more than one Ohm is recommended here. With DTL technology, on the other hand, things are quite different. Here a high vapor production is desired. Therefore, a coil with as little resistance as possible is required. Most vapers use coils with a resistance of less than one Ohm. Coils with a resistance of 0.5 ohms are advisable for beginners in sub-ohm vaping.
