Could weed enhance oral health? This is what a team of researchers in Belgium claim, after they yielded positive results from a test on cannabis-infused mouthwash. Published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, the study saw the team attempt to treat dental plaque buildup using a cannabinoid-containing solution sold under the CannIBite brand name.

This controlled and randomized trial launched in October 2019 and came to an end in March 2020. The tested cannabis-infused mouthwashes – which contained CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol) – “demonstrate the potential of cannabinoids in developing efficient and safer mouthwash products and next-generation oral care products.”

CannIBite describes itself as “the future of personalized oral health care.” The company’s cannabis-infused mouthwash proved to be more powerful at banishing plaque-causing oral bacteria than conventional over-the-counter (OTC) mouthwashes. According to the researchers, oral care solutions that contain plant-derived cannabinoids were equally as effective the antibacterial/antiseptic compound chlorhexidine. 

Commonly used oral care ingredient chlorhexidine has negative side effects

Chlorhexidine might be acknowledged as the ingredient of choice when consumers inspect the contents of a mouthwash bottle, but it is renowned for staining the teeth. In addition to this, consumers ought to consider the fact that the potency of chlorhexidine may strip the mouth of both dangerous and healthy bacteria; hence why CBD could be the better alternative.

In their findings, researchers emphasized how CBD-based mouthwashes from CannIBite do not discolor the teeth. They came to this conclusion after analyzing oral bacteria samples from 72 adults. Bacteria was grown inside a laboratory setting, before being tested against five unique mouthwash solutions.

Listed below are the ingredients contained in all five products:

1. A 0.2 percent chlorhexidine solution
2. CBD and spearmint oil 
3. CBG and spearmint oil 
4. An OTC solution of essential oils and alcohol 
5. An OTC alcohol-free mouthwash with added fluoride

“Cannabinoids (CBD / CBG) infused mouthwashes together with other natural key ingredients shows promising bactericidal activity in vitro against total-culturable aerobic bacterial content in dental plaque. Mouthwash products with cannabinoids infusion offer a safer and effective alternative without any fluorides or alcohol,” the study authors concluded.

About CannIBite

Acknowledged as a brand dedicated to producing cannabinoid-based dental products, CannIBite is a herbal medicine store that funded this study on cannabis mouthwash and oral care. The company was founded by a woman named Veronica Stahl, who was also a co-author for the study.

“To our knowledge, this is the first report on such efficient mouthwash products with natural key ingredients including cannabinoids and without any kind of fluoride or alcohol,” said Stahl, who made a point of noting that the cannabis infused mouthwash did not contain the mind-altering substance THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and therefore will not make users feel high.

Currently, oral product manufacturers are unable to use cannabinoids in their solutions, what with patents still pending. On the plus side, this study on cannabis mouthwash presents positive findings that could lead to bigger things for the cannabinoid-focused oral hygiene industry.