there are many claims about cbd and its benefits, and the topic of oral hygiene is not exempt from this discussion. we were curious: there’s no doubt that smoking is not good for your teeth (even cannabis), but what about cbd oil? 

you may or may not be surprised to find out that cbd oil is absolutely not bad for your teeth! in fact, quite the contrary is true – cbd can actually be beneficial to your oral microbiome in a variety of ways due to its antibacterial, analgesic, and potential anti-inflammatory properties.

these properties can be useful for many reasons when considering your mouth, including alleviating pain from toothache and tooth decay, aiding with swollen or receding gums, or simply assisting with maintaining a healthy mouth. 

does cbd help teeth?

cbd can help your teeth directly as well as indirectly by way of helping to improve your overall oral health. on a more direct level, cbd’s anti-bacterial properties mean that it can help regulate more than 700 bacterial species that live in our mouths. cbd also has antiseptic properties, meaning it may help prevent the growth of disease-causing microorganisms like streptococcus mutans, one of the primary bacteria known for causing cavities and tooth decay.

cbd’s properties to work against swelling may be able to help when it comes to tooth decay; when teeth decay, cavities form and swelling occurs. cbd has been shown to strengthen and increase bone growth, and the same may be true when it comes to slowing or even potentially reversing minor tooth decay. this can also aid in alleviating issues of tooth sensitivity that accompany eroding enamel. 

toothaches can also be counteracted with cbd due to its powerful pain killing abilities. a few drops of cbd oil directly onto an affected area may help, or a gauze or teabag containing cbd-rich hemp flower can be set onto the area of pain. you could even put a few drops of cbd oil onto your toothbrush along with your toothpaste. 

what about cbd toothpaste? 

cbd is a buzzword and there are many good reasons for that. the more areas that we study cbd as a population, the more places we find its value. we truly are at the tip of the iceberg with regards to unlocking all of the doors that cannabis can open. but it also opens the door for companies to make cbd-infused products of varying efficacies without much (or any) accountability to the directly-claimed effects. worse off, this is often accompanied by no proof of the quality of the product being used in the first place!

so what about cbd-infused toothpaste? we know cbd is good for your teeth, but does that mean you should be looking to buy a cbd toothpaste to use? are you missing out if you aren’t using a cbd toothpaste?

not exactly. it is important to address this like all other areas of one’s individual health: within the full spectrum of health itself. not all toothpastes are created equal: some use fluoride and other chemicals you can hardly pronounce. others claim to be “all-natural,” but are owned by parent companies who produce chemically-laden products as well. as we climb up the ladder, only a few end up using most, if not all organic ingredients and the like in their toothpaste.

if you want to use cbd toothpaste, it would be good to look into the other ingredients in said toothpaste and make a decision for yourself on a larger scale. at the end of the day, you are the one who is truly responsible for your well-being, so, as the market evolves, you can determine if there is a cbd-infused toothpaste that does not compromise on other standards of consumption you may have. 

can cbd help your gums? 

cbd may be even better for your gums than it is for your teeth! the same properties that we previously mentioned make cbd a powerful ally for a variety of gum-related issues:

• swollen gums: swollen gums are a sign of gingivitis, which happens if proper brushing and flossing is not practiced. food particles stay in your mouth, feeding your oral bacteria and causing your gums to swell after if not taken care of. cbd helps due to its anti-inflammatory properties, though its analgesic effects can also help with the associated pain and the antibacterial effects can help curb further degradation. however, you should also make sure to see a dentist if you are experiencing this issue or any other problems related to oral hygiene. 
• receding gums: another byproduct of poor dental hygiene comes by way of receding gums. over time, improper care can result in gum tissue wearing down to the point that a tooth’s root may be exposed. inflammation is present with receding gums, and may further lead to tooth decay and even infection. cbd’s anti-inflammatory, anti-pain, and antiseptic properties can all play a role in helping mitigate the issues that come with receding gums.
• gum disease: if issues like gingivitis are not treated, full-on periodontitis may occur. this is a gum disease that results in the degeneration of tissue, which can lead to teeth becoming infected and potentially falling out. cbd can help not only for all of the same reasons pertaining to swollen and receding gums, but also due to its benefits on teeth as well. 
• nerve pain: if tooth decay persists to the point that bacteria has reached the middle of the tooth (and thus your roots), inflammation will occur as a response to your body fighting back. pain will likely follow, and cbd is effective at both helping soothe nerve pain and reducing the swelling that comes from the inflamed nerve. however, as mentioned in the first bullet point, cbd is not a substitute for proper dental care or oral hygiene. with or without any of these issues, it is important for your overall well-being to plan regularly-scheduled trips to the dentist.  

does cbd oil make your breath smell?

as we mentioned at the beginning of the article, smoking is bad for your mouth. we’ve all smelled someone’s breath after they’ve smoked a cigarette and it is not pleasant. you may have felt the same about smoking “marijuana,” especially if someone rolled up something that wasn’t of the highest quality or if you got the last hit of a party bowl. but does that mean cannabis use in all forms results in bad breath? 

the answer is no. cbd is one of many compounds found inside the cannabis plant and it has no bearing on bad breath or other oral reactions. so if you are experiencing bad breath after taking cbd, it is likely from one of two reasons.

the first reason is that you are not getting pure, high-quality cbd. other impurities in your cbd may be resulting in reactions that cause foul breath. this is why you should make sure your cbd is tested by a third party, as pesticides, synthetic cannabinoids, and other toxins are found inside many low-quality cbd products. these can be harmful to more than just your mouth (and your gut!). 

this leads us to our second potential reason: bad breath may be a further indicator of one’s gut health being out of equilibrium. your mouth is the first part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, also known as your gut. it’s interconnected with your stomach, intestines, and so on until the tract reaches its terminus at the anus. 

obviously, this process is essential to function as living beings. when something inside the gut isn’t operating properly, then it makes sense that its output on one or both ends of the tract will emit symptoms, or signals to warn the person of an imbalance. much like with regular dental checkups, this is one reason why it is also important to regularly see a doctor for a physical. with or without bad breath, it is always better to be proactive with one’s approach to their health. 

should you use cbd before or after brushing your teeth?

if cbd doesn’t give us bad breath, does it matter when we take it? in order to answer that question, we should first understand bioavailability. in short, bioavailability relates to how well your body absorbs a given substance. when it comes to cannabis, different methods of administration result in different levels of bioavailability. 

of all methods, taking cbd drops sublingually (under your tongue) results in the most rapid form of absorption. this is due to the amount of blood vessels found inside your mouth, and it is further suggested to hold cbd (or any other sublingual tincture) in your mouth for 30-60 seconds before swallowing in order to increase the amount that is absorbed in that manner. otherwise, it is effectively going to produce a similar result to oral consumption. (this is effective, but not as effective as sublingual consumption). 

additionally, it is suggested to avoid eating immediately before or after using a cbd tincture in order to remove any variables that may compete with your body’s ability to maximally uptake the compound. however, it is also suggested that brushing one’s teeth before using a tincture may actually improve both the consistency and rate of absorption from that tincture.

so, there you have it. cbd can be beneficial in helping maintain a healthy mouth in addition to helping relieve the pain and swelling that can arise from issues related to oral hygiene. it can be applied in a variety of ways, though sublingual administration into a clean mouth appears to be the most optimal. despite these benefits, cbd is not a substitute for regular preventative medical and dental care so make sure to get those check ups regularly and consult your doctor or dentist if you are experiencing any symptoms or pain. here’s to a healthy life and a healthy mouth!