Oral Health Through the Haze
Keep your mouth happy this 4/20
It’s high school. The bell rings. You rush out of class and head to your locker to meet your friends. You walk by that stairwell that is rarely used. You decipher that all familiar smell. Someone has been smoking the reefer! 4/20 is here and the smell is almost wafting through the computer the marijuana consumption is so potent. The drug that a majority of people are doing but don’t want to claim.
Just like slacking off on flossing, your dentist can usually tell if you are partaking on the regular. How, you ask? Other than the chill vibe and potential for red eyes, your teeth tell a story of dry mouth, munchies and a periodic lackadaisical approach to oral hygiene.
Let’s be clear, this is NOT a reprimand. There are a multitude of reasons to go green, and with marijuana more largely being legalized, I figured it was time to elucidate how to mitigate some of the oral health issues associated with cannabis use. All of the information below pertains to all weed, smoked or edible.
Cotton Mouth
Is terrible! You grab any drink that is near you to help wash down your lack of spit. Let’s be honest, it probably isn’t water sitting next you. If it is, I say yes, drink it all! If it is soda, tisk tisk, ganja or not. If it is alcohol, please know that alcohol and any type of smoking puts your at a higher risk of developing oropharyngeal cancers and will also amplify cavity formation because most alcohol breaks down into a carbohydrate and feeds all the bacteria lingering around.
Other than feeling terrible, the real issue with cotton mouth is exactly that you are lacking spit. Your spit has some very valuable functions, namely: washing bacteria off of your teeth through a mechanical action, and two, neutralizing the pH in your mouth. Without your saliva to sit and chill, your teeth are at extreme risk of forming cavities, quickly. This inherent issue with marijuana use is only then compounded by the following two side effects.
Munchies
THC is an appetite stimulant, and also enhances your smell and taste. If you think those Cheetos taste better with a side of ganja, you’re right, that is what your brain is telling you! Once you get the munchies, you are beholden to your capricious cravings, and they are stereotypically highly processed foods, high in carbohydrates and sugars. These food choices are cariogenic (cavity forming) on their own. These types of foods also are very “packable,” meaning they stick into every nook and cranny of your teeth and stay there. Think about the last time you ate that whole bag of goldfish in one sitting and how long it took for you to dig that orange fuzz out of your teeth. Now imagine trying to clear those goldfish off your teeth with no spit. Not very successful. This leads to the food either just sticking around for longer than normal periods of time, or you are washing them off with cavity forming drinks. Cavity forming foods + dry mouth means you’re going to be seeing me. A lot.
Now what?
I know, that purple haze is starting to look like the haze of doom. Here are some tips and tricks to try and fend off oral health issues so that they don’t add to any paranoia.
Keep water on hand. You are more likely to grab what is next to you. Stock up next to you ahead of time to stay better hydrated.
Avoid drinking alcohol while enjoying your favorite blend. Alcohol + marijuana increases your risk of oral and throat cancers. Nobody needs that. Stick to one drug at a time.
Eat a healthy, filling meal prior to THC consumption. This will help curb the munchies.
Healthy snacking. This may be unpopular, but you can chow down on as many fresh fruits, veggies, nuts and cheese as your body can consume. These are low cavity forming foods.
If you are enjoying edibles, try sticking to edibles with low amounts of sugar. Most edibles are high in high fructose corn syrup, which is bad for you on so many levels. Shoutout to the California brand Papa & Barkely who has put out an edible with allulose. Allulose is a naturally derived sugar, much like xylitol, which is sweet but has a minimal glycemic index and is, for all intents and purposes, considered a “sugar free” product. Current research shows that allulose does not cause a drop in pH of the oral environment when consumed and could not be utilized by cavity forming bacteria (S.mutans). So, it is a do no harm sugar sort of situation. SO much better than high fructose corn syrup, which is like feeding those cavity bacteria steroids.
Oral hygiene. Brush, floss, fluoride rinse prior to cannabis consumption and as soon as you think about it after. Give your teeth any shot they have of not forming cavities. Also, speak with your dentist about weed and oral health. I frequently recommend prescription strength toothpaste to be used regularly when I know a patient is participating in high-risk activities.
Be sure to tell your dentist if you are baked prior to any dental treatment. If we are doing any work, we are giving you other drugs that could cause unwanted interactions.
I’ll keep it blunt and wrap it up. I think this session is cashed.