SCIENCE STUFF – DRY MOUTH
People in lab coats using big words, stay with us…
A common complaint of cannabis users is a persistent thirst and sticky mouth, often referred to as cotton mouth or “the pasties”, that just won’t go away. Once thought to be caused by harsh smoke irritating tender oral membranes, cotton mouth is now better understood as a normal (though annoying) response of the saliva glands in our mouths to cannabis components in the bloodstream. It’s a myth that vaping and ingesting marijuana don’t cause dry mouth. Cotton mouth strikes whether you prefer combustion, concentrates or edibles.
The cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are located in the brain and also in the submandibular glands found beneath the bottom of the mouth that are responsible for producing nearly three-quarters of saliva. When THC binds to these receptors, these glands stop receiving messages from the peripheral nervous system (in this case, the parasympathetic nervous system), and there is a reduction in the production of saliva. THC also binds to these receptor sites in the brain, and this also reduces the production of saliva.
HEALTHY TEETH AND GUMS
Aside from discomfort, dry mouth can have serious health risks, including:
- gum disease
- 30 percent of all tooth decay in older adults is caused by dry mouth
- throat disease
- Problems with chewing and swallowing food
- Dry nasal passages
- discontinuation of medication due to side-effects
The medical condition dry mouth (also called xerostomia) also can cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, neutralize acids produced by plaque, and wash away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. The natural saliva that has so mysteriously seemed to vanish has a job to do: flushing bacteria and leftover food particles from your mouth. Without saliva to flush them away, the bacteria and debris start to break down, creating an unpleasant odor.