According to research conducted on teenagers who had used marijuana in the previous 30 days, just 68 percent thought that marijuana had a negative impact on their health while nearly 93 percent believed that tobacco adversely affected the body. The truth is that your oral health can be significantly compromised by smoking of any kind, including marijuana. Here’s how marijuana can take its toll on your teeth.

Causes Periodontal Diseases

There is a strong indication that there is a link between smoking cannabis and various periodontal diseases, including gingivitis. For example, according to a study conducted on 32-year-old cannabis smokers, those who smoked the most were three times more likely to have at least one spot on their gums that showed symptoms consistent with gum disease.

Increases Risk of Oral Cancers

There are several studies that indicate smoking marijuana can increase your risk of oral cancer. This includes research that shows that although marijuana users do not smoke multiple joints every day, they do tend to consume a greater concentration of carcinogens than cigarette smokers who smoke a pack per day. The very high temperatures of the cannabis can irritate the soft tissues in your mouth and initiate changes at the cellular level, which can cause cancerous lesions in your mouth.

Contributes to Tooth Decay

The active ingredient in cannabis, THC, is known to reduce the production of calcium, which can weaken your teeth. It can also induce your body to produce dopamine, causing you to quickly consume food that can satisfy your brain’s cravings. Eating food that contains excessive sugar, salt and starch can result in a change in the pH of your mouth, which can also increase the rate of tooth decay.

Leads to Unattractive Smiles

Smoking marijuana can degrade the appearance of your teeth and the rest of your mouth. It can deposit a layer of slime that can stain your teeth a greenish-brown hue. The stains can be very difficult to remove, especially with the coating on top of it, which can result in the constant presence of plaque on your teeth.

At Brewery District Dental, we are committed to providing our patients with the high level of dental care they deserve. If you are concerned about the effects smoking marijuana has had on your oral health, please feel free to get in touch with us. We offer a wide range of general and cosmetic dentistry solutions that may help you restore and maintain your smile.