Is Frequent Marijuana Use Harmful to Dental Health?
In 2016, Duke University conducted a 20-year study analyzing the dental health of 1,000 New Zealand residents who regularly used marijuana for recreational purposes. The results were surprising: while marijuana generally has a high safety profile and has been shown to be safe for many people—including those with heart disease or respiratory infections—and offers various therapeutic benefits, regular marijuana smoking can have a very negative impact on oral health and hygiene.
The study found no significant differences between the test and control groups (ages 26–38) over the 20-year period, except that the marijuana users had a noticeably higher risk of developing periodontal (gum) diseases, likely linked to marijuana smoking.
Increased Risk of Gum Disease Among Regular Marijuana Users
The researchers accounted for other factors that could affect dental health, such as tobacco and alcohol use, consumption of sugary foods and drinks, and overall personal hygiene. Even after considering these, the data clearly showed that regular marijuana smokers were much more likely to experience periodontal infections than non-users.
Several independent studies have reported similar findings. The American Dental Association (ADA), after reviewing such studies and feedback from practicing dentists, officially confirms the increased risk of gum infections associated with regular marijuana smoking. According to the ADA, “Regular marijuana smoking is associated with gum diseases, xerostomia (dry mouth), and leukoplakia, as well as a certain risk of developing oral and throat cancers.”
This has prompted new research teams to further investigate these findings and develop recommendations for safer marijuana use from an oral health perspective. The commercial marijuana industry has also responded by developing products aimed at reducing oral hygiene damage from regular use.
The Unique Ecosystem of the Human Mouth
The mouth is not only a vital part of the body but also a complex and diverse microscopic ecosystem. It consists of interconnected elements like saliva, gums, and teeth, which not only support overall health but also define the habitat for billions of microbes. Saliva plays a dual role: it helps break down food into simpler nutrients and washes away many organisms, including those that cause gum infections.
When saliva production decreases—a common effect of regular marijuana use—the risk increases that food particles and bacteria will accumulate in the mouth. Without regular saliva flow, these bacteria can multiply, leading to gum tissue complications and infections.
Dry mouth from marijuana smoking is well-known among users. This occurs because THC, the plant-based equivalent of the body’s own cannabinoid neurotransmitter anandamide, suppresses CB1 and CB2 receptor activity in the salivary glands. The duration and intensity of this effect depend on the THC concentration consumed, with higher doses causing stronger effects.
Saliva contains not only moisture but also many natural antibacterial agents, enzymes, and electrolytes that help maintain oral health. When normal saliva production is regularly suppressed due to marijuana-induced dry mouth, the mouth loses this protection, making it more vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, and fungal pathogens that can inflame soft tissues and even attack tooth structure and nerves. The study also notes that unhealthy eating habits common among marijuana users can further increase oral health risks.
“Often, during recreational marijuana use, people consume large amounts of sugary and caffeinated drinks to combat dry mouth, as well as fatty and salty junk food. Combined with poor oral hygiene, this creates ideal conditions for rapid development of oral infections,” says Dr. Jared Helfant, a dentist working with the cannabis company Sparx. “While smoking itself is harmful to teeth and gums, when combined with high sugar intake and dry mouth, it can erode oral health much faster—unless users brush their teeth regularly and thoroughly.”
In addition to gum tissue infections, other studies have linked frequent marijuana use to the progression of gingivitis (gum inflammation) and the formation of spots on the gums. Interestingly, experts—including the ADA—note that these effects are specific to smoking marijuana, not to consuming THC or other cannabinoids by other means. This suggests that cannabinoids can be used in ways that avoid the harmful byproducts of burning plant material.
Other risk factors include combining marijuana with substances that irritate and dry out the mouth, such as alcohol and tobacco. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently studying the effects of marijuana smoking on gum and dental health, as well as its correlation with tobacco use.
Recommendations for Reducing Oral Health Risks
Dentists studying the effects of marijuana on oral health, such as Dr. Helfant and his colleague Dr. George Anastassov, have suggested several ways to counteract the increased risk of infections:
- Combat dry mouth by drinking water regularly, ideally after each puff, to keep the mouth moist.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-rich toothpaste to kill potential disease-causing agents.
- After smoking, use standard mouthwash and dental hygiene products to disinfect the mouth.
- Consider switching from smoking to vaporizing marijuana, or better yet, use edibles, drinks, or chewing gum infused with cannabinoids to avoid harmful combustion byproducts.
- Chewing regular gum during or after marijuana use can help maintain mouth hydration and stimulate saliva production, which helps clear food particles from the mouth.
Dr. Anastassov, a dentist, pharmacist, plastic surgeon, and founder of AXIM Biotechnologies (which produces cannabinoid-infused products like CBD chewing gum), strongly advises against any method of marijuana use that involves inhaling smoke or vapor. “Even vaporizing releases liquid particles that can stain teeth and mucous membranes. I recommend avoiding smoking or vaporizing marijuana altogether. Edibles, drinks, or chewing gum with cannabinoids help avoid these contaminants and their potential to cause bronchitis and other chronic respiratory diseases.”
Cannabinoids with Antibacterial Effects
“You may have heard that the mouth is the dirtiest part of the body in terms of microbial population,” says Dr. Anastassov. “Some cannabinoid compounds, especially CBG and CBD, have proven to be effective antibacterial agents, even destroying various oral infections in human and animal tests. Specifically, CBG reacts with fluoride in oral care products to form substances highly effective at killing bacteria, fungi, and oral infections at any stage of their life cycle. In addition to typical infections, CBG is also effective against dangerous pathogens that can enter the body through the mouth, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is now difficult to treat.”
Original author: Alexa Peters