Researchers have found that frequent recreational cannabis use – including marijuana, hashish and hash oil – may be associated with elevated risk of periodontal disease. When compared to study participants who used cannabis less regularly, those who had used it at least once a month for a year demonstrated increased indicators of mild, moderate and severe periodontal disease. The study is featured in the Journal of Periodontology, which is published by the American Academy of Periodontology.
In the report titled “Relationship between Frequent Recreational Cannabis (Marijuana and Hashish) Use and Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: NHANES 2011-2012,” participants who identified as frequent users of recreational cannabis demonstrated an average of 29.2 sites around the teeth with periodontal pocket depths of greater than or equal to 4mm; 24.8 sites with pocket depth of greater than or equal to 6mm; and 24.5 sites with at least 8mm of pocket depth. Study participants who reported to less frequent cannabis use indicated an average of 22.3, 19.2 and 18.9 sites, respectively.
Pocket depths are critical indicators of periodontal disease, measuring the space between a tooth and surrounding gum tissue. Healthy attachment of gum tissue, which should fit snugly around a tooth, measures between 1 and 3mm in depth. Pocket depth measurements indicative of disease can range between 3 and 5mm deep (mild periodontal disease) to more than 7mm deep (severe periodontal disease).
“At a time when the decriminalisation of marijuana use is becoming more common in the US, users should be made aware of the impact that any form of cannabis can have on the health of their gums,” says Dr. Terrence J. Griffin, president of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). “There are a number of risk factors that contribute to the development of periodontal disease, and this report suggests that cannabis use may be one of them. Patients should notify their periodontists of all known risk factors to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment.”
Data for this report, which assessed a nationally representative sample of US adults between age 30 and 59, were collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2012), administered by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the AAP. The AAP and the CDC have worked together since 2003 to determine periodontitis prevalence in the US, finding that nearly half of all US adults age 30 and above have some form of periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is caused by an inflammatory reaction to a bacterial infection below the gum line, and it can lead to swelling, irritation, receding gums and tooth loss if left untreated. The AAP recommends regular flossing, brushing twice a day and undergoing yearly comprehensive periodontal evaluations for the prevention of periodontal disease, which is treatable and often reversible with proper and timely care from a periodontist.
“Those who suspect they have gum disease should schedule an appointment with a local periodontist,” Dr. Griffin says.