The Tooth about Cannabis Smoke

As if there weren’t already enough reasons to eat your cannabis instead of smoking it, here is another…
After a candid conversation with my dental hygienist at my last cleaning, she asked me to share some information with my followers. I told her it was exactly the type of information I wanted to share – in part because I hadn’t heard it before.

It seems that the higher burning temperature of cannabis compared to tobacco can give the smoke a higher risk for dental health problems. The higher temperature hardens gums, as if they were acting in self-defense from the heat. This hardening can make it harder to keep them clean with regular brushing. My dentist’s office recommends professional cleanings no less than every 6 months to manage the resulting plaque buildup.

Of course, I did notice one benefit even in this. My last cleaning was no worse than any other when I’ve neglected to floss, but I did not get the scolding I normally do for this lapse. In fact, for the first time ever, there was no comment about “allergy gums” or any other mention of my formerly tender, bleeding gums. Is it possible that the hardening had actually countered some of the damage of some lazy home care? I guess I know what to ask at my next cleaning.

My hygienist’s second request was that I stay an extra hour on my next visit, to talk more about the pros and cons of cannabis. If your office is also interested in a lunch and learn, get in touch and I’d be happy to oblige.