Submitted by Dr. Jeff Reynolds.
Washington state has long been a trailblazer when it comes to cannabis. The Evergreen State was the first to legalize marijuana for recreational use in 2012 and medical use has been legal since 1998. While state residents have been riding that high, they also could be doing long-term damage to their mouths and overall oral health.
Research shows that there is a link between marijuana use and poor dental health, potentially causing cavities, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and possible tooth loss. In addition, much like tobacco use, inhaling cannabis, through smoking or vaping, causes stained teeth, dry mouth, and bad breath.
As cannabis continues to become legal in more states throughout the country, it is important for users to recognize the potentially adverse effects on their oral health. Smoking cannabis causes changes in gum tissues, which can lead to gum disease and oral cancers. In addition, dry mouth is a common side effect of smoking cannabis and THC is an appetite stimulant. The user often will reach for snacks, and unfortunately, this combination can have a negative impact on your oral health in the long run by increasing cavity risk.
When discussing marijuana use and oral health it is important to examine how a person consumes marijuana.
Nearly a third of all Americans say they use marijuana at least once a week, while half say they use it once a year according to an online data firm. Within those numbers, 66% of respondents said they inhale marijuana by smoking, 40% through edible foods and another 27% via vaping – and each consumption method comes with distinct risks:
- Smoking: No matter what you smoke – tobacco or marijuana – you are opening up the possibility for long-term health problems because of the chemicals found in the smoke, which can lead to mouth and neck cancers, gum disease and dry mouth. Making matters worse, marijuana smokers tend to hold the smoke in their lungs for a longer duration than tobacco users, which can lead to more issues with their breathing and lungs.
- Edibles (food or candy infused with marijuana): Ingesting marijuana through food can bring about dental caries and gum disease in the same way as eating foods high in added sugar. The remnants of the food – particularly gummies – can stick to the teeth. Over time, this causes acid production from bacterial metabolism of sugars, which damages and eventually leads to cavities. One way to combat this is to eat chocolate rather than sticky candy like caramels or chews. Chocolate washes off your teeth easier than sticky substances, and in moderation won’t have as big of an impact.
- Vaping: This involves inhaling heated oil through a vaporizing device, which people often assume is healthier than smoking, but the intense amount of heating required can burn the mouth and tongue and causes damage to the gums. And as with all marijuana consumption, dry mouth is a risk.
There are also positive aspects to the cannabis plant, specifically cannabidiol, a therapeutic cannabinoid known commonly as CBD. CBD is often used therapeutically for pain relief, anti-inflammation, and stress reduction, and unlike THC, will not get the user high.
Ultimately, if you do consume marijuana, it is important to remember to keep a strong dental regimen which includes brushing for two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day and visiting the dentist twice a year.
Jeff Reynolds, DMD, is a Delta Dental of Washington member dentist and serves as the Dental Care & Dental Director for Community Health Care (www.commhealth.org).
While “Marijuana and Your Oral Health: A Joint Problem” provides a necessary and well-researched overview of cannabis’ potential impact on dental health, it leans heavily into the risks—especially with smoking, vaping, and edibles—without giving proportional space to the medical realities and benefits experienced by millions of patients.
In Washington State and beyond, cannabis isn’t just a recreational pastime. It’s a lifeline for veterans managing PTSD, cancer patients navigating chemotherapy, individuals with treatment-resistant epilepsy, and those with chronic conditions that rob them of mobility, appetite, or peace of mind. To frame marijuana primarily as a cavity-causing, gum-irritating vice misses a key part of the story—its therapeutic legitimacy and how that intersects with other health disciplines, including dentistry.
Medical cannabis users often take extreme care in how they consume—microdosing oils, using tinctures or topicals, or choosing low-sugar delivery methods. Many work closely with healthcare providers to find the least harmful options. Ignoring that nuance—and grouping all cannabis use under the same umbrella—does a disservice to patients who already face social stigma and systemic barriers.
Of course, no substance is without consequence. Yes, dry mouth, gum changes, and increased cavity risk are real and worth addressing. But responsible education also requires context. Just as physicians balance the side effects of pharmaceuticals with their life-saving effects, so too should oral health professionals approach cannabis with a more nuanced lens.
What would be more helpful is a parallel conversation: How can dentists collaborate with patients and physicians to help medical cannabis users maintain strong oral health? What are the best practices for mitigating dry mouth without discouraging treatment? How can we support those using cannabis wisely, instead of presenting them as unwitting participants in a “joint problem”?
Cannabis and dental health is a legitimate conversation—but it deserves a tone that informs without alienating, and one that recognizes patients not just as users, but as people navigating difficult health decisions with care and intentionality.
This article reminds me of a Seattle Times reporter years ago, who came to my business with a focused agenda to demonize the industry in which we were involved.
His self-righteous agitated demeanor, stinking breath, and rotting teeth, fortold the vitriol he would spew. A lot of people took him seriously, because he was able to hide his personal image behind the printed words.
I’ve long-suspected habitual drug use to be the reason this area of the country has such a different view of things.
Is anyone really surprised?