cannabis

A 101 On Getting Rid Of Cottonmouth

A 101 On Getting Rid Of Cottonmouth

The benefits of cannabis are plentiful, from helping with sleep disorders to treating chronic pain. Cannabis is truly one of the greatest gifts on the planet. However, even with the amount of good it provides for patients and your average consumer, that doesn’t mean there aren’t side effects that come along with it. The most common ones are sleepiness and hunger, though beneficial for certain medical patients. Some people have reported paranoia, while others have claimed it causes dizziness.

However, among the many negative side-effects is dry mouth, colloquially known as cottonmouth. Dry mouth often occurs after consuming cannabis, whether it’s downing a few edibles or toking off a bong. The symptoms of cottonmouth are being thirsty — sometimes borderline dehydrated — the inability to adequately swallow, and feeling like there’s hardly any saliva in your mouth. The term xerostomia in the medical community commonly defines the lack of saliva production by the salivary glands. It’s a cultural phenomenon referenced across music and film, as well as the experiences of your everyday cannabis consumer.

Now, it’s simple to boil cottonmouth down to the consumption of cannabis, but there’s a reason this occurs. As Cannigma explained, the endocannabinoid system bears responsibility for many bodily functions. The term homeostasis describes the “biomolecular mechanisms of the ECS,” including regular saliva production. The body’s natural creation of saliva plays a significant role in homeostasis, as well as oral health. You see, saliva is a critical component in protecting the mouth’s tissues and aiding in essential functions like swallowing and chewing food. Additionally, your saliva helps prevent frequent trips to the dentist. The minerals and proteins in your spit help fight off gum disease, protect the enamel in your teeth, and heal mouth tissue.

So, how exactly does cottonmouth — or xerostomia — occur? There’s a chance that it’s a result of anticholinergic effects — a term used when the brain isn’t picking up on signals from the rest of the body. One of the key neurotransmitters in your body is acetylcholine, which helps the nervous system send messages via neuron-to-neuron or neuron-to-muscle. Xerostomia isn’t limited to the use of cannabis but prescribed substances, as well, according to studies. Prescription medication can hinder the function of neurotransmitters in sending messages throughout the body and among the symptoms in dry mouth. However, that’s a milder side-effect compared to others on the list, including bowel obstruction, constipation, urinary retention, and increased heart rate. The side-effects that came with smoking cannabis such as impaired concentration and dilated pupils, which is similar to those that hinder neurotransmitters’ function.

Smoking cannabis can undoubtedly be detrimental to your oral health if you aren’t already frequently brushing and flossing. Cottonmouth doesn’t pose any immediate threats to your health, though it can if not regularly treated. There are three simple solutions to treating cottonmouth and/or preventing it. For one, keep some water on deck. There isn’t a time where you’ll ever regret having a bottle of water around when you’re lighting up, and you’ll be thanking yourself when cottonmouth does strike. Secondly, avoid anything that could exacerbate dehydration, including dodging caffeinated beverages like coffee or energy drinks. Though caffeinated drinks could be an excellent pick-me-up when the effects of cannabis wear off, it’ll only aggravate any feelings of xerostomia. Finally, also have some hard candy or sugarless gum on hand during smoking sessions, which helps encourage saliva production in your mouth.

If these tips aren’t adequate in relieving cottonmouth, try oral care products, like mouthwash containing xylitol. It would be best to be mindful of potentially using cannabis with allergy medication, which could worsen the symptoms. Finally, make sure you’re regularly flossing and brushing your teeth during the day. If not for the cottonmouth, then for the sake of basic hygiene practices. If all else fails, and you find your breath getting worse, go to your nearest doctor to get it checked out.

Cottonmouth is a common side effect that most cannabis users experience. While it’s relatively harmless, finding solutions can lead to a more comfortable session and, overall, better oral hygiene that could otherwise deteriorate from regular cannabis use. 

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