Based on recent dental hygiene studies, it was observed that Cannabidiol (CBD) has antimicrobial properties and is effective in reducing the colony count of bacterial strains of dental plaque, which could control and reduce inflammatory periodontal diseases that are of bacterial origin. The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD also made it suitable as an alternative for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis, or tissue swelling and irritation in the mouth, by reducing the inflammatory process and the severity of lesions. CBD was shown to enhance the healing process of common ulcers when compared with well-established synthetic oral care products. Furthermore, CBD alone was shown to improve tooth fracture healing.
These anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of CBD have been reported to be dose-responsive, so that the ideal dose still needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis. This combination of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties of CBD may render a more potent action than classical antioxidants, which could be responsible for the reduced production of pro-inflammatory mediators responsible for inflammatory pathologies. The majority of the microorganisms which dental biofilms are composed of are Gram-positive bacteria hence making it susceptible to the action of CBD, which resulted a greater reduction in bacterial colonies when compared with other oral hygiene products.
CBD is a compound without psychoactive activity derived from Cannabis sativa plant. It has been investigated more frequently and to a greater extent when compared with other cannabinoids in the contemporary literature and has shown potential as a therapeutic agent for various physio-pathological conditions or disease states. Therapeutic uses of CBD have been linked to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties including varied applications such as in bone tissue cell differentiation, neuroprotection, antiepileptic, anxiolytic, and anti-cancer agents. Cannabinoids can bind to specific CB1 and CB2 receptors found in the body’s plasma membranes, nerve fibers (CB1), and tissue cells (CB2). CB1 receptors in the brain are responsible for regulating memory, mood, sleep, appetite, and pain while CB2 receptors are probably responsible for the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoids and are expressed in the spleen and hematopoietic cells.
Reference: Cannabidiol in Dentistry: A Scoping Review