Does marijuana affect your dental health?

Things can bring a smile and brighten a day. And common sense says that we need to take care of our mouth, teeth and gums to stay healthy. Science and reason say that smoking cigarettes is harmful to our dental health. Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and other forms of tobacco cause oral cancer, gum disease and other oral health problems. Untreated tooth decay is more common in cigarette smokers. Over 40% of adults ages 20 to 64 who currently smoke cigarettes suffer from untreated tooth decay. Additionally, smoking causes discoloration on teeth caused by nicotine and tar in tobacco. Teeth turn yellow within a very short period of time and heavy smokers often complain that their teeth are almost brown after years of smoking. But does marijuana affect your dental health?

A large study from Duke University found links between smoking cannabis and various oral diseases. Researchers found that, unlike cigarettes, cannabis is not harmful to the lungs, cholesterol levels or blood pressure.

“While study participants who had used marijuana to some extent in the past 20 years showed an increase in periodontal disease between ages 26 and 38, they did not differ from non-users on any of the other physical health measures,” the study said.

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The most likely diseases that can occur in regular marijuana smokers include periodontitis, xerostomia (a permanent form of dry mouth), and leukoplakia (the appearance of white patches in the inner part of the mouth). Consuming cannabis causes dry mouth, impairs oral function, and reduces saliva production. This allows bacteria to develop, which can also lead to tooth decay and infections.

Leukoedema is more common in cannabis users than non-users, but it is unclear whether associated irritants such as orally inhaled smoke, rather than cannabis itself, may be the cause.

Less serious conditions include gingivitis and tooth stains resulting from the presence of smoke in the mouth. Smoking is harmful to the mouth in every way and there is no way to prevent it.

If you enjoy smoking cannabis and are concerned about these results, take a deep breath and relax. There are many ways to treat your cannabis-induced dry mouth, including: E.g., drink some water and chew gum while you smoke. It wouldn’t hurt you to try vaporizers and other methods of cannabis consumption that don’t involve smoke. Another harmful thing to watch out for is food cravings, which usually occur late at night and cause many people to go to bed without brushing their teeth. I know this is dental health 101, but a reminder never hurt anyone.