Cannabis (THC)
Cannabinoid
Brand names: Marijuana, Dronabinol
Oral health effects
Xerostomia ('cottonmouth'), gingival/caries risk
Cannabinoids reduce salivary flow ('cottonmouth'); regular use is associated with more caries, gingival enlargement/inflammation, and leukoplakia-type changes with smoked forms.
Mechanism: Cannabinoid-receptor effects on salivary glands reduce secretion.
Clinical management: Caries prevention; periodontal monitoring; vasoconstrictor caution if recently used (tachycardia). Ask non-judgmentally about use.
Sources
- A Guide to Medications Inducing Salivary Gland Dysfunction, Xerostomia, and Subjective Sialorrhea: A Systematic Review Sponsored by the World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI. Wolff A, Joshi RK, Ekström J, et al. Drugs in R&D, 2017.
- A review and guide to drug-associated oral adverse effects-Dental, salivary and neurosensory reactions. Part 1. Teoh L, Moses G, McCullough MJ. Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology, 2019.