Cannabis Dry Mouth: The Causes & Cures!

What are the causes and cures of cannabis cotton mouthShow more

Some of the effects of smoking cannabis are wonderful, in fact most of them are pretty good.

Unfortunately, there can be one or two side effects which are not so welcome, and one of these is cotton mouth.

So, what exactly is cotton mouth, what causes it, and can you do anything to combat its effects?
In medical circles, cottonmouth is known as hyposalivation, or xerostomia.

For sure cotton mouth is easier to say, especially if you are suffering from it at the time!

The conditions caused by the saliva glands failing to excrete sufficient saliva to freely lubricate your mouth and keep it moist.

We have no idea how they managed to measure this, but hyposalivation is that point when your saliva glands fail to produce a minimum 0.7 grammes of saliva per minute.

The cause of cottonmouth is as a result of those otherwise beneficial cannabinoids, THC and CBD, and a few others.

Cannabinoid receptors can be found in the saliva ducts in your mouth, and when THC and anandamide bind to these receptors, the flow of saliva is greatly reduced, if not halted.

Further investigation revealed that “CB1 receptors predominantly modulate the flow of saliva, while CB2 receptors seem to influence consistency and content of saliva (such as sodium levels).”

Curiously, cottonmouth is neither a cause or a symptom of dehydration, unlike the dry mouth you have in the morning after drinking way to much alcohol and you are struggling with the world’s worst hangover…

At this point we should point out that cottonmouth is not great where oral health is concerned, so it is wise to try and combat cottonmouth as best you can.

First, while smoking cannabis, drink plenty of water, and don’t be tempted to have a thirst-quenching beer or six as that will only compound the problem.

Chewing gum is always a good idea as masticating, no not that, we said masticating, is a good way to activate your saliva glands.

You could also try sucking on a boiled sweet, ideally one of the sour-tasting ones.
Herbal tea is a good counter-agent for cottonmouth, as are oral sprays and also some mouthwashes.

After all, prevention is better than cure…

But what say you? How do you deal with cotton mouth? Let us know in the comment section below.