Cannabis May Harm Your Oral Health

Cannabis may harm your oral health. However, how this happens is far from clear. The increasing legalization of Cannabis will allow for greater future data collection, which will shed further light on just what the oral health effects of cannabis may be. For the time being, much speculation about its effects is based upon observations of its effects upon people who smoke it.

Non-Causal Links

In the recent past, cannabis smokers have been associated with the frequent use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. They have typically also had poor oral hygiene and less frequent dental visits. This hardly demonstrates that cannabis is the cause. Nonetheless, there are some associated conditions that could represent potentially significant oral health risk factors.

Dry Mouth: smoking cannabis tends to cause the salivary glands to decrease saliva production. This places sufferers at risk for tooth decay, because the important role saliva plays in breaking down food, preventing plaque build-up, and flushing out bacteria and food particles is greatly weakened.

Gum Disease: Cannabis may harm your oral health, if you smoke it, because irritants within the smoke and its high temperature may damage your gums. This could lead to swelling, infections, and gingivitis.

Tooth Discoloration:  Continued cannabis smoking will gradually stain your teeth over time.

Infection: Cannabis smokers seem to suffer an increase of cavity-causing bacteria in their mouths. This may be because cannabis appears to suppress the immune system function in the mouth.

Sores: Cannabis may also harm your oral health by causing inflammation and changes in oral tissues that could increase the risk of developing wounds and other potentially pre-cancerous conditions.

While the links between these conditions and cannabis smoking remain mostly casual,  there are some recommended oral hygiene practices that can minimize their impact:

• Brushing twice daily

• Flossing once daily

• Staying hydrated

• Eating healthy foods

• Having regular dental examinations

Water Flossing Can Help

Whether by casual or causal relationship, smoking cannabis appears to compromise the health of your mouth. The key to minimizing unwanted negative effects lies in the practice of excellent oral hygiene, which can be dynamically enhanced through the use of water flossing.  

The Aquapick AQ-230 Cordless and the countertop AQ-350 are two water flosser options that can strongly supplement any rigorous oral care routine. The AQ-230 is compact and portable, delivering a forceful 0.6mm stream of water, that pulsates 1,400 times per minute. Its 360 degree rotating jet tip allows for optimal water flow control from a 200ml large capacity water tank.

The AQ-350 is a space-saving, counter-top water flosser, which is the first to employ smart sensing technology. Its motor starts automatically when the handle is lifted, providing a powerful, easily adjustable, 0.6mm stream of water, pulsating 2,400 times per minute. Both water flossers are convenient and easy to use by children and adults alike. They thoroughly clean hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and are especially effective for maintaining optimal gum health.