It has been known for a long time that smoking cannabis can cause problems with the lungs, heart, and brain.
Now, new research shows that frequent smoking of cannabis may also lead to serious problems with your teeth.
Dr. Ellyce Clonan from the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine has found that people who smoke cannabis often have a higher risk of tooth decay and even lose their teeth.
Her work is featured on the cover of the January 2025 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Dr. Clonan, who became a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatric and Community Dentistry in the spring of 2024, first noticed a link between cannabis use and dental problems while she was working at a public clinic at Jacobi Medical Center in Bronx, New York.
In the clinic, patients would usually answer “no” when asked if they smoked.
However, when she gave them home care instructions after a tooth extraction—such as avoiding fried foods and smoking—they would often admit that they smoked cannabis. This observation led her to look more closely at the possible connection between frequent recreational cannabis use and oral health issues.
To investigate this connection, Dr. Clonan conducted a study using data from 5,656 adults between the ages of 18 and 59. The information came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 2015 and 2018.
In her study, she looked at people who reported smoking cannabis at least once a month for over a year. The results showed that these regular cannabis smokers had a 17% higher chance of having untreated cavities in the crown of their teeth.
They also had 55% higher odds of cavities on the root surfaces of their teeth, and 41% higher odds of severe tooth loss compared to those who did not smoke cannabis. These differences were seen even after the researchers took into account factors like age, gender, race, education, income, and alcohol use.
Dr. Clonan explains that smoking cannabis puts heat and smoke close to the mouth, which is not good for the teeth. One reason is that it causes dry mouth. Saliva is very important because it helps protect the teeth by washing away food particles and neutralizing acids that can cause cavities. Without enough saliva, the teeth are more likely to decay.
In addition to the direct effects of the smoke, many cannabis smokers also tend to eat high-fat snacks and sugary foods and drinks. These habits, along with poor brushing habits that often happen when someone is under the influence, can further increase the risk of dental problems.
While there have been many studies on the effects of smoking on general health, there has been very little research on how cannabis smoking affects the mouth and teeth. With more states legalizing marijuana and recreational use on the rise, this gap in dental research has become more important.
Dr. Clonan believes that the true number of people who smoke cannabis frequently is likely even higher than what surveys show. This may be because some people are less willing to report their cannabis use, especially in areas where there is still a lot of stigma attached to it.
Even though the study focused only on smoking cannabis and not on other forms like edibles, the findings are clear. Smoking cannabis can lead to dry mouth and create an environment where bacteria can cause cavities and tooth loss. Dr. Clonan emphasizes that she does not want to say that cannabis is always bad or that people should never use it.
In fact, cannabis can be very helpful as a treatment for many conditions, such as pain, anxiety, or even symptoms of cancer. The key point is that people who use cannabis should be aware of the potential risks to their dental health and take steps to protect their teeth.
Some simple suggestions from Dr. Clonan include drinking plenty of water after smoking and trying to eat in one sitting instead of constant snacking, which can expose the teeth to sugars for a long time. She also recommends avoiding sticky or sugary foods and always brushing the teeth after eating, even if one is under the influence of cannabis.
At the end of the study, it is clear that there is an important link between frequent cannabis smoking and negative effects on oral health. The study shows that regular smokers have a higher chance of developing cavities and losing teeth compared to non-smokers.
However, more long-term research is needed to fully understand the cause and effect of these dental problems. The findings provide a strong basis for dentists to ask more specific questions about cannabis use during check-ups and to offer better advice on how to care for the teeth.
Overall, this study highlights the need for both patients and dental care providers to be informed about the risks of smoking cannabis and to take proactive steps to protect oral health.
The research findings can be found in The Journal of the American Dental Association.
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