What Is Cottonmouth? The Science behind Marijuana and Dry Mouth
In most states in America, authorities have legalized the consumption of medical marijuana. Apart from medical marijuana, most states are now legalizing the use of recreational cannabis. With the legalization of both marijuana uses, there is a spike in the number of individuals using marijuana legally. However, due to the increased use of marijuana, most users experience the cottonmouth’s common side effect.
Despite cottonmouth being a common side effect among marijuana users, most of them still don't understand the causes of this condition. When you're looking for more information about this condition, you're in the right place. We've outlined a detailed scientific explanation about cottonmouth.
What is cottonmouth?
Cottonmouth is a slang name for one of the minor adverse effects resulting from marijuana consumption. Individuals with this condition usually have a persistent thirst and a sticky mouth. In the past, most people thought that the harsh cannabis smoke that irritated oral membranes was the main cause of cottonmouth. Nonetheless, experts attribute the cause to normal salivary glands’ response in your mouth to the different components of cannabis in your bloodstream.
Additionally, the most common myth among most users is that you won't get cottonmouth by vaping or ingesting cannabis. However, despite the cannabis consumption method, the cottonmouth is a common side effect you may experience.
Medical experts term this condition as xerostomia. They associate it with an interference with the salivary flow due to the continuous use of cannabis. The best medical remedy is to avoid using marijuana without beverages to hand. The reason being the condition will travel down to your throat once your mouth dries out.
Cottonmouth worsens without immediate medical intervention, leading to more severe effects, such as sore throat and bad breath.
Understanding Cottonmouth: Importance of Saliva in Our Mouth
The saliva in our body consists of 98% water coming from three pairs of glands. The glands include submandibular, sublingual, and parotid.
Saliva is an essential component in your daily life and body functions. It works primarily by protecting our mouth and keeping it smooth. Importantly, the smoothing of your mouth enables the food to slide more easily through the throat. It also prevents choking, allowing quick and easy access to all vital minerals, nutrients, and vitamins.
It'll be painful and uncomfortable to swallow food and other substances without saliva in your mouth. Thus, the salivary glands will play an important role in easing the uncomfortability. The submandibular plays a major role as it produces over 70% of this saliva in your mouth.
The Connection between Cannabis and Dry mouth
It'll be essential to understand the components in marijuana that cause this condition. Endo cannabinoid is the primary connection between cannabis and dry mouth. It's a wide network of cannabinoids, such as cannabinoid receptors, anandamide, and other naturally occurring enzymes.
Endocannabinoids (ECS) plays a significant role in regulating different physiological and cognitive process. Therefore, the ECS and the parasympathetic nervous system are important players when looking at cottonmouth.
Submandibular glands found under the jaw bone are the leading producers of saliva in your mouth. The secretion has a high content of cannabinoid receptors. After consuming cannabis, these cannabinoids will bind to the receptors.
The binding prevents the cannabinoids from transmitting information to your parasympathetic nervous system. Thus, the nervous system won't get any message to allow the saliva to keep flowing.
Ultimately, these interactions of cannabinoids with ECS stimulate cottonmouth. Medical experts associate THC with cottonmouth because they are the main cannabis' intoxicating ingredients, and scientists have scientific proof of the connection.
The Science behind Weed Causing Cottonmouth
In 2006, there was a breakthrough of numerous studies proving the connection between weed and cottonmouth. For example, Experimental Biology and Medicine revealed a decrease in saliva production as the possible cause of cottonmouth. The study showed that CB receptors present in the saliva glands might result in the condition.
After targeting male rats, the researchers found that all the receptors were present in particular locations in the rat’s submandibular glands during the experiment. The receptors had attached to the anandamide, thus reducing the output of saliva.
In addition, in 2012, the researchers further had another investigation on the issue. The results showed that under normal circumstances, the salivary gland’s cells stopped the production of excessive saliva following signals from the endocannabinoids. The signals help to reduce excessive saliva build-up in your mouth. Therefore, after consuming cannabis, you’ll have a significant reduction in the production of saliva. The significant fall results from the additional activation of the body’s CB1 and CB2 receptors.
The study showed that the CB1 receptors enhanced the modulation of saliva flow. During this process, the CB2 receptors will impact the content and consistency of your saliva, including the sodium levels. Thus, if you take any drug that enhances the antagonizing of your CB receptors, you’ll have increased production of saliva.
While having the research, the main researcher used two drugs targeting the different receptors. She used the two drugs to demonstrate that administering antagonizing drugs enhances the reduction of saliva output, which the use of excess THC causes.
Summarily, this study showed that the cannabis’ THC might likely cause a decrease in the production of saliva in your mouth. This concept provides the appropriate evidence on why you can have cottonmouth despite using cannabis edibles.
Cottonmouth and Weed: Is It Dangerous?
Despite medical experts considering the condition an irritant, leaving it unchecked leads to some oral health damage. Generally, the American Dental Association associates smoking cannabis with a heightened risk of mouth & neck cancers and periodontal complications.
ADA publishes numerous studies supporting these findings on their official website, including the ‘Australian Dental Journal, 2005.’ In the journal, the researchers outlined that most users of marijuana have poor oral health compared to non-users. Additionally, they are also at higher chances of developing periodontal infections. In the publication, they also linked cannabis smoke to oral mucosa dysplastic changes and pre-malignant lessions. Looking at the research’s meta-analysis, you’ll realize the link between increased periodontal diseases and cannabis consumption.
It’ll be good to understand that your saliva is vital in your mouth as it helps to lubricate the mouth, thus enabling ease in speaking, swallowing, and tasting food. The saliva also helps to keep the teeth, throat, and mouth from viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms. Thus, you’re likely to experience the above issues when you’ve got consistently low saliva levels.
The additional effects of low production of saliva include:
● Hoarseness
● Raw tongue
● Cracked lips
● Mouth sores
● Split skin within your mouth
Smoking cannabis becomes more harmful than edibles to your oral health. The smoke from cannabis results in a large number of toxins and chemicals entering your mouth’s surface.
More so, a particular study published in their ‘Journal of the Tennessee Dental Association’ that gingival enlargement was greatly associated with chronic use of marijuana. Most individuals know the condition as gingival hyperplasia, which leads to increased gum disease risk and impacts your teeth’ alignment.
Tips to Combat Cottonmouth While Smoking Marijuana
The primary tip for regular marijuana users is to stay hydrated, as it’s the ideal way to combat this condition. With the continuous interruption of saliva flow, which causes dehydration of your throat and mouth, you’ll need to drink more water.
After getting the dry mouth condition, the glass of water may not be beneficial. During this time, you may feel like having to drink more amounts of water. Therefore, hydrating your body before and after using marijuana will be vital. It’ll be essential to keep drinking water more regularly if you’re a regular marijuana user.
Below are additional ways to help combat dry mouth while using cannabis
● Chewing
It's vital in stimulating the production of more saliva, important in preventing dry mouth. You can always pick some strips of chewing gum, which will help to stimulate the production of more saliva from the glands. Alternatively, if you aren’t comfortable chewing gums, you can choose beef jerky or dried fruits.
● Mouthwash
Manufacturers make some specific mouthwashes to help combat dry mouth. You can look at your nearby shop and choose the appropriate mouthwash to help treat and prevent your mouth dryness.
● Candy
It’s one of the quickest ways to fix your common mouth. Choosing the suitable small Jolly Rancher will help enhance salivation without using any water. Experts recommend you choose the cottonmouth candy as it offers the best option.
● Crushed Ice
Like water, crushed ice offers a great way to control dry mouth by simply chewing some ice. The ice achieves the objective by keeping your mouth moist, the primary remedy to combating dry mouth.
● Milk
Despite not working for all, it’s an appropriate option to cause mucus. Being rich in fat, milk helps to cover your mouth and throat, thus reducing dryness.
● Herbal Teas
After smoking cannabis despite having a dry mouth, you can also experience an irritated or sore throat. Nonetheless, you could use herbal teas to provide some relief to these symptoms. Preferably, go for the tea with ginger, as the ginger will help stimulate saliva production. It's evident from a study some researchers published in the journal,' Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical products.'
In addition, you can also choose the following herbs for your stimulation of more saliva production:
● Sweet pepper
● Hollyhock Root
● Aloe Vera
● Spilanthes
● Nopal cactus
● Check Any Medical Prescription you’re Taking
Before using marijuana, it’ll be essential to review all your current prescriptions or medications. Similar to marijuana, different OTC drugs and prescriptions may lead to dry mouth. A study from ‘Drugs in R&D’ reveals that we’ve got some drugs that increase the chances of having a dry mouth. These drugs may include:
● Antihypertensives
● Antihistamines
● Bronchodilators
● Hormone medications
Therefore, it’ll be necessary to seek advice from your physicians if you can stop taking your prescribed medication.
Final Thoughts on Cottonmouth and Weed
We’ve got a wide range of mechanisms and ideals to control cottonmouth. The ideas may include getting hydrated by using some ice or candy, using mouthwashes, and many more. These mechanisms make it possible to overcome this condition before and once it arises. Cottonmouth is one of the annoying effects of using marijuana; however, it’s a condition you can easily deal with the proper mechanism.
The condition occurs to most marijuana users regardless of the cannabis consumptions method. Additionally, consistent marijuana use and failure to have an appropriate intervention to manage cottonmouth can lead to long-term oral damage. Before using marijuana, it'll be essential to understand this condition and the proper ways to manage or control it.
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