Newly published research suggests that mouthwash containing cannabidiol (CBD) and another botanical extract could be a useful tool for promoting oral health, controlling bacteria and reducing inflammation.
The report, published late last month in the journal Clinical Advances in Dental Medicine and Oral Health, involved 40 patients using a mouthwash containing tea tree oil, CBD oil and spilanthol, a fatty acid extracted from the Acmella oleracea plant. Authors noted growing interest in CBD and spilanthol as natural ingredients in mouthwash products.
Compared to a mouthwash containing only tea tree oil, the CBD-infused product was significantly more effective at reducing plaque buildup and oral bleeding—chief symptoms of gingivitis.
Researchers also found that the CBD/spilanthol mouthwash maintained “homeostasis of the oral microbiome, thereby reducing the levels of bacteria that can affect periodontal health.”
The findings stand to benefit more than just oral health, authors noted, writing that inflammation in the mouth “has been demonstrated to correlate with the health status of the entire organism.”
“Prolonged, unaddressed inflammation, instigated by plaque bacteria and their interaction with the host immune system,” the paper says, “results in the deterioration of the supporting tissues of the teeth, as well as elevated levels of inflammatory mediators, which in turn, increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and complications during pregnancy.”
In the study, participants who had oral inflammation and demonstrated what’s called “bleeding while probing” (BOP) showed a “significant reduction in BOP index values,” researchers observed.
They noted that CBD and spilanthol share characteristics that appear to help address oral inflammation and bleeding.
Spilanthol, for example, contains various chemical compounds that “possess a diverse range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiallergenic, and antimicrobial properties,” the report says. Other studies have demonstrated the extract’s antifungal properties and capacity to enhance saliva production.
Authors also pointed to CBD’s “extensive therapeutic potential.”
“The available evidence suggests that CBD exerts anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and antimicrobial effects, underscoring its potential as a multifaceted therapeutic agent,” they wrote.
Combining the two ingredients could help improve oral health, especially when used in combination with routine care such as brushing and flossing.
“The combination of CBD and spilanthol in oral products intended for the treatment of candidiasis would leverage their multifaceted properties, encompassing antimycological and analgesic effects,” the paper adds, continuing: “This approach could also address the prevalence of dry mouth, a common complaint among patients afflicted with such conditions.”
The ten-person research team—from the Medical University of Silesia, in Poland—noted that the main limitation of the research was its relatively small sample size as well as its failure to control for certain individual risk factors, such as nicotine use or diabetes. A larger sample size also would have allowed comparisons between participants with and without gingivitis, they said.
One focus of the new report was CBD’s apparent efficacy at eradicating biofilms—communities of organisms that build up, for example on the surfaces of teeth. Two other recent papers also flagged the cannabinoid as a way to keep biofilms in check.
A study last month in the journal Molecules, for one, found that CBD could be an effective way to avoid oral infections when incorporated into the primary material used in dentures. The government-funded research says bonding CBD to dentures demonstrates “potential for antibiotic-free denture coatings, reducing dental biofilms and plaque formation, and improving oral health outcomes.”
“Biofilm studies revealed a 99% reduction in biofilm growth for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria on CBD-infused PMMA compared to standard PMMA,” that report says. “The CBD disrupted bacterial cell ways, causing lysis,” or the breakdown of the cell itself.
“In summary,” authors wrote, “biofilm studies showed PMMA/CBD coatings were effective in eradicating all the pathogens on their surface.”
A separate study, also focused on CBD and biofilms, found that the cannabinoid could offer a promising treatment for a common type of vaginal infection.
That report looked specifically at the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis, which is found naturally in the vagina but can also cause vaginosis when out of balance with other microbes. In laboratory tests, CBD demonstrated antibacterial and antioxidant effects that weakened G. vaginalis and eliminated biofilms.
“Our study shows that CBD exhibits antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against G. vaginalis clinical isolates,” that paper said, “and is thus a potential drug for the treatment of vaginosis caused by this bacterium.”
Another recent paper, published in the journal Pharmaceuticals, found that CBD could be a useful addition to certain skin products given its anti-aging and antioxidant properties as well as evidence that it may speed the healing of wounds.
A report published last autumn by university researchers in India and Thailand found that cannabis oil containing CBD may also help promote the healing of skin wounds, writing that it offers “promising benefits” despite a need to better optimize product formulations.
That study looked specifically at how cannabis oil can reduce so-called “reactive oxygen species” (ROS) during the healing of wounds. Those chemicals “play a crucial role in would development by causing cell and tissue damage,” it explained.
“Increased ROS levels can hinder wound healing by exacerbating inflammation and cellular damage,” said the paper, published in the journal Pharmaceutics. “CBD’s antioxidant properties mitigate these effects, fostering a more conducive environment for tissue regeneration.”
Another analysis, published this earlier year, found that more than 1 in 10 Americans reported consuming the non-psychoactive cannabis component within the past month, with prevalence significantly higher among people who also used marijuana itself.
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