While we know about the myriad of benefits that cannabis has for our overall health, one of the least understood aspects is its benefits for oral and dental health. And while no one likes going to the dentist, oral health shouldn’t be taken for granted the way many people do.
Tooth decay and cavities are among the most common non-communicable yet chronic dental issues suffered by adults as well as children. Cavities occur when we consume starchy, carbohydrate food and don’t clean our teeth well afterwards. The bacteria from these foods convert into acids within the mouth, and when you combine with saliva and other food debris, the enamel that protects our teeth dissolve over time. Any diet that is high in carbohydrates as well as salt and sugar can promote cavities. Other common causes of cavities are gradual tooth decay and plaque.
You can prevent cavities by ensuring that you always brush your teeth especially after meals, avoiding sugary foods, and flossing among other best practices.
But no matter how hard we try, sometimes cavities can’t be avoided.
How Cannabis Helps
Cannabis has gotten a bad rap for its impact on oral health. But there are studies that say the opposite.
In 2020, a study that was released in the Cureus Journal of medical Science revealed that some cannabinoids in marijuana were effective in eliminating bacteria colonies – and much better at doing so compared to toothpaste. The researchers specifically found that the cannabinoids were CBD, CBN, CBC, CBGA, and CBG, which were tested against popular toothpaste brands Colgate, Oral B, and a plant-based toothpaste called Cannabite F.
For the study, plaque samples were taken from 60 people of healthy stature. They were then given a solution containing a mix of the cannabinoids or one toothpaste. They found that the cannabis solutions performed better when it came to stopping bacterial growth compared to the conventional toothpaste brands.
“Cannabinoids have the potential to be used as an effective antibacterial agent against dental plaque-associated bacteria,” said the researchers. “Moreover, it provides a safer alternative for synthetic antibiotics to reduce the development of drug resistance.”
They also explained that cannabinoids provide the added benefit of preventing antibiotic-resistant infections including MRSA. “Although commercially available oral care product are considerably effective in maintaining the oral hygiene of the average population, our study found that cannabinoids are substantially effective in reducing the colony count of the bacterial strains of the dental plaque as compared to the well-established synthetic oral care products such as Oral B and Colgate,” they wrote.
Aside from this, there are studies from the National Institute of Health (NIH) that show how CBD is beneficial in eliminating the bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, which help reduce the risk for cavities.
Colgate Acknowledges Benefits of CBD, Acquired Hello
The efficacy of CBD in oral care has been recognized by global toothpaste brand, Colgate, as they have created an entirely new page on their website dedicated to explaining the benefits of CBD for dental health.
In the website, they discuss the potential benefits of CBD for oral health, including its ability to reduce inflammation, treat bad breath and sensitivity, reduce the risk of cavities, promote remineralizing of teeth, and reduce bacteria that causes tooth decay.
In fact, in April 2021, Colgate-Palmolive, a large personal care and hygiene corporation, created and wrote three patients for developing CBD-infused oral care products. They said that the formulations would then be used for developing products later on such as toothpaste, chewing gum, oral gels, mouth sprays, and mouth wash.
“Accordingly, there is a need for oral care compositions with antibacterial efficacy, but which are also palatable and desirable for the user,” they wrote in their patent filings. “…Without being bound by theory, it is believed that oral care compositions comprising cannabinoids such as CBD provide antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, for example, and are well-suited to treat a variety of oral diseases and disorders,” Colgate said.
Furthermore, in early 2020, Colgate-Palmolive announced that they were going to acquire Hello Oral Care, a fast-growing oral care brand which has a portfolio of CBD-infused oral care products. “Colgate is the ideal partnr for Hello with a like-minded commitment to the best consumer oral health, the environment, and our communities,” said Mr. Dubitsky, founder of Hello.
Using CBD for Oral Care
The oral care niche is one of the slower-growing segments of the CBD and cannabis industry. When compared to the benefits of CBD for anxiety, inflammation, depression, insomnia, and pain, there is a dearth of research on its uses for oral care.
That’s not to say that people aren’t seeing the potential – after all, Colgate has already acknowledged it. There are several CBD oral care products already in the market which can greatly help you prevent bacterial growth and inflammation in your mouth to reduce the occurrence of cavities and other detrimental dental problems. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties are widely documented, and thousands of people can benefit from reducing inflammation in the mouth and gums.
Just keep in mind that CBD is not a one-off solution to all dental problems; you should still be practicing good dental hygiene and seeing your dentist regularly to get the best results.
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