You walk into a doctor’s office, you sit down, and you are asked about your medical history. Then the question do you smoke, is asked. You think to yourself well, I don’t smoke cigarettes but I do smoke weed.
If you smoke pot you should tell your dentist, because smoking marijuana can affect your oral health - plus your dentist can tell.
Smoking weed regularly can lead to a few different oral health issues:
Dry mouth (or cottonmouth) can be caused by the use of marijuana. We spoke about how to prevent cotton mouth and why it is problematic for your oral health in our previous blog post. When you have cottonmouth, what you are experiencing is the lack of saliva flow (which makes your mouth dry) and it leads to higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
Smoking can also irritate the gums and lead to swelling, bleeding and sensitivity. The irritation is due to the high temperatures of smoke inhalation. This could lead to periodontal disease and gingivitis.
If you’re like me you want a pearly white smile, but unfortunately weed can discolor your teeth. That being said, tooth stains from weed are typically milder than those of tobacco. You may want to look into a routine whitening plan.
There have been some studies that suggest cannabis suppresses the immune system in the mouth. With your immune system suppressed the level of bacteria in your mouth increases. The more bacteria in your mouth the higher your chances of developing cavities are.
Because it’s federally illegal, there is not a ton of research around whether or not weed contributes to oral cancer. However, a small number of studies have shown that smoking cannabis may raise the risk of oral cancer, though to a much lesser extent than tobacco.
Now that you are aware of the potential negative effects of marijuana on your oral health, there are things you can do to minimize the impact:
Brush and floss daily- As a marijuana smoker, you must be more diligent than others when caring for your teeth at home. You should brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss at least once per day. Flossing will help keep your gum tissue healthy.
To help get rid of the film left from smoking try swishing a teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 8 oz. of warm water in your mouth and over your teeth.
Stay hydrated – Drink lots of water throughout the day. This keeps you hydrated and will help combat dry mouth.
Reduce sugary and processed snacks – Processed and sugary food will contribute to cavities and tooth decay.
Go to the dentist every 6 months - At least twice a year (more if recommended by your dentist) you should get a professional cleaning and dental exam.
Don’t keep your marijuana use from your dentist. It’s important to be open with your dentist regarding your lifestyle so that they can advise and inform you about the best way to keep your mouth healthy.