CBD for Dental and Oral Health

Our dental health is paramount, we need our teeth for eating, speaking and smiling and yet dental issues are one of the most frequent non-communicative diseases that we humans suffer from. Tooth decay and gum disease are degenerative disorders which are unfortunately commonplace and tend to drag down our general state of well being. Tooth decay and gum disease are implicated in serious conditions like heart disease and unpleasant conditions like halitosis.

Recently research into CBD as a useful agent for oral health has yielded some very encouraging results in both the treatment of tooth decay and periodontal disease.

In 2020 research studies in Belgium showed that CBD worked as well as the market’s leading commercial products. Testing for decreases in bacteria both using CBD to clean teeth and as a mouthwash, CBD performed as well as conventional Colgate and Oral B products and had significant extra advantages over the brand formulas.

CBD slowed the development of decay in cavities and reinforced the health of teeth by enhancing bone strength.

Another advantage that showed up in CBD mouthwash tests was a selective action that chlorhexidine mouthwash ( Listerine or similar) lacks. Chlorhexidine- based mouthwash indiscriminately kills all bacteria in the mouth, whereas CBD mouthwash selectively wipes out Streptococcus Mutans and Streptococcus Sobrinus which are responsible for decay and cavities while leaving the healthy bacterias intact. Chlorhexidine also discolors teeth over time while CBD fortunately doesn’t degrade tooth enamel or color.

Gum health is essential for dental success, bone loss through gum disease undermines the integrity of the tooth by shrinking gum tissue and eroding bone mass. CBD supports gums by wiping out unhealthy bacteria

and relieving inflammation from damaging periodontal conditions.

Tooth decay and periodontal diseases like gingivitis cause the mouth to become sore and inflamed and often to bleed. CBD gum treatment will act on the bacteria which make the mouth acidic impeding healthy oral absorption of minerals in the mouth. CBD is a natural anti-bacterial and corrects the PH balance in the mouth correcting damaging acidity, this is another benefit that conventional chlorhexidine-based mouthwash doesn't offer.

Although CBD dental hygiene products are readily available it is easy to experiment and make your own CBD oral health products if you have CBD tincture available. These are some easy ways to experiment with using CBD for oral health, and the first came from a Synergy staff member. keen to improve her dental health and treat her inflamed gums. She hit on the idea of adding 10 drops of ACDC alcohol -based CBD tincture (#102) to her waterpik. This is giving her gums and teeth a daily anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory rinse which has improved the health of her gums which are no longer inflamed or sore.

A CBD-rich mouthwash can be made In a similar simple way; add 5 drops of alcohol-based CBD tincture to a small glass of water and use as a mouthwash.

As for brushing teeth with CBD toothpaste, it is an easy concoction to experiment with that can be made inexpensively from simple household ingredients. A week's supply of homemade natural toothpaste is as simple as this:

• 4 tablespoons of coconut oil,

• 4 tablespoons of non-aluminum baking soda,

• 20 drops of CBD tincture,

• alcohol or oil based,

• 5 drops of peppermint essential oil ( optional for flavor, another essential oil can be used or left plain)

Mix everything together and store in a small wide-necked mason jar, use as toothpaste. Alternatively you could just add a few drops of CBD tincture on top of your regular toothpaste when you’ve already applied it to your toothbrush.

One last dental innovation is the ancient Ayurvedic practise of oil-pulling for oral health. There is no research on the ability of oil-pulling to remove plaque from teeth or pull toxins from the gums but as it has been practiced for 6,000 years there must be something in it! The Ayurvedic tradition uses raw sesame oil for oil pulling which can be infused with medicinal herbs, but any kind of pleasant tasting oil can be used; coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil are all popular choices. Add 5 drops of oil-based tincture to a generous tablespoon of liquid oil and swish in the mouth for 5 to 20 minutes. The idea is to coat the inside of the mouth, covering the gums and teeth with the oil, so you draw the oil through the teeth repeatedly as well as vigorously swilling the oil from side to side! Five minutes feels like a long time and you will probably have to work up to it. Oil-pulling leaves the mouth feeling clean with the gums feeling tighter and looking pink and healthy when it is part of a daily oral health regime.

CBD clearly has a wide reaching therapeutic role in oral health particularly by reducing gum inflammation, working as an effective anti-bacterial and a ph-balancing agent. Try making your own mouthwash or toothpaste with CBD tincture and see how your mouth likes it!

CBN and the Quest for Sleep

 Medical research has identifIed 113 cannabinoids existing in the cannabis plant and of these cannabinoids, less than ten of them have been subject to any substantial scientific study. CBD and THC  have received the lion’s share of research attention and clinical studies have shown many ways that these two cannabinoids work with our endocannabinoid system (ECS) and improve our health. Cannabinoids supplement our endogenous cannabinoids in their role addressing systemic imbalances, relieving inflammation, nausea, depression, anxiety, pain and appetite issues as well as acting as an anti-cancer and anti-bacterial agent.  

Positive research results and scientific endorsement validate and give credibility to emerging cannabinoid therapies while also stimulating much needed investment in clinical studies. Alongside THC and CBD there has been growing interest in other cannabinoids: CBG, CBN and THCV are three whose medical  benefits have been noted. This trio are all non-psychoactive and each one has developed a distinct reputation for particular therapeutic qualities.

CBN was the very first cannabinoid to be isolated in 1899 but it was a hundred years later when cannabis medicine returned to medical legitimacy that CBN emerged as an effective sleep aid.

As we have learned there are many cannabinoids present in cannabis, a full spectrum extraction is understood to bring an entourage effect of cannabinoids that are present, not just the most plentiful constituents.

CBN is always a low-occuring cannabinoid in any cannabis strain but CBN benefits from being produced in two unique ways in the plant. The first route to CBN is through naturally occurring CBNA, (Cannabinolic Acid) when processed with heat (decarboxylation) it becomes CBN. The second path to CBN occurs as THC-rich cannabis oxidizes, as the dry plant matter ages the THC loses its psychoactivity and  turns into CBN. 

When CBN is utilized as a sleep aid it is generally blended with CBD or THC, sometimes with both. The logic behind these synergistic blends lies in the benefits of combining cannabinoids for soporific effect. CBD, as an anti-anxiety agent, amplifies the sedative effect when partnered with the profile of CBN. Likewise, the addition of a low ratio of THC to CBN enables relaxation and drowsiness, reinforcing the sleep benefits of CBN. 

Cannabis practitioners speculate that the presence of the terpenes beta-caryophyllene and myrcene in CBN bolsters its sleep-inducing profile. Beta-Caryophyllene is the only known terpene that acts directly with CB2 receptors in the same way as a cannabinoid while Myrcene’s relaxed drowsy reputation is based on an affinity with an opioid receptor.

CBN-rich tincture will combine well with herbal sleep aids, chamomile tea, valerian tea or a sleepytime blend. Melatonin is also popular for sleep issues and particularly noted for adjusting the body to return to the correct circadian rhythm after traveling. Often a combination of sleep aids works best, taking tincture in a herbal tea is my double action solution! 

Synergy offers CBN in combination with CBD  (#220 3:1 CBD:CBN) and CBN with THC (#210 1:1 THC:CBN) in both oil-based and alcohol tincture. When either falling asleep, light-sleeping or difficulty staying asleep is the issue we suggest top-up doses, so keeping tincture and water at the bedside is recommended. If you can make a note of your dosages you’ll be able to figure out exactly what your body needs to get some good sleep! 

Is Cannabis Effective in Dealing with Anxiety?

It’s not as straightforward as you might think.

By Dan Reich

Anxiety is one of the most pervasive and hard-to-treat mental health issues of our time. More than 40 million people in America suffer from one or more forms of anxiety, which  can take many guises, from generalized anxiety to post-traumatic stress disorder. Panic attacks affect 6 million people, whereas phobias are a problem for more than 19 million. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) manifests itself in 2.5 million, and Social Anxiety Disorder (a spectrum of behaviors from fear of public speaking to agoraphobia) affects the social activity of 15 million. 

Anxiety is generally defined as a sense of unease or foreboding with no easily identifiable cause, or at least one that is insignificant compared to the anxiety response. Anxiety can be a chronic state of worry, or it can be caused by any of several triggers. These can include excessive or unresolved stress, a genetic predisposition to anxiety, an experience of trauma or loss, or a side effect from medication.

Anxiety generally involves feelings of apprehension or worry about events that might occur in the future, whereas fear is a response to an immediate threat, such as an approaching storm or something chasing you. Fear is a normal, healthy biological response…we wouldn’t be here if fear hadn’t enabled our ancestors to escape danger…but anxiety is not nearly as useful. It keeps people from living normal lives, and causes a lot of pain for those affected by it.

Treating anxiety with pharmaceuticals, such as antidepressants, has not been a solution for many. As society begins to embrace alternative therapies, such as cannabis, studies have been undertaken that demonstrate that cannabis could be a good solution for mitigating anxiety. But here is where it gets tricky. THC – the cannabinoid that gets you high – can be effective in small doses, but in larger amounts, can actually cause anxiety. THC has emerged in studies on PTSD as an effective treatment, but it seems to have the most potential when combined with CBD. The two cannabinoids work in concert (the entourage effect) and when CBD is combined with THC, its psychoactive (and anxiety-inducing) properties are minimized.

CBD, on the other hand, has demonstrated that it is an effective anti-anxiety medicine, and is also invaluable in its ability to allow THC to provide therapeutic benefits without making the anxiety worse.

Dosing Is Everything

For those suffering from anxiety who have not tried cannabis to treat it, establishing the right dose is of paramount importance. Conventional wisdom is to start small, and gradually increase the dose. Depending on the type of anxiety, it’s probably best to avoid products that have more THC than CBD to avoid psychoactive side effects. 

Inhalation is the quickest delivery method for cannabinoids as the lungs give immediate access to the blood system.To address acute anxiety or a full blown panic attack vaping or smoking a CBD-rich strain will bring therapeutic relief in seconds. Synergy’s pure extraction vape cartridge CBD:THC 24:1 (#351) is recommended for cessation of anxious symptoms and Synergy has a range of high CBD flowers for conventional smoking.

.A CBD-dominant strain like ACDC in tincture form (CBD;THC 24:1 #100,#101,#102) can offer anti-anxiety benefits without a THC influenced buzz. Containing only trace levels of THC, ACDC uses the force of CBD and terpenes like myrcene to invoke a clear, calm state of mind. If you’re new to cannabis and leery of feeling high, start with ACDC or another CBD-rich strain. If the psychoactivity of THC is helpful. a blended tincture with a low ratio of THC will be mildly psychoactive and can be uplifting and effective. Synergy offers two 4:1 CBD to THC tinctures, Indica dominant (CBD;THC 4:1, #103-#105)  for calming action and Sativa dominant ( CBD:THC 4:1 #116) for uplifting anxiety relief. Both these tinctures are very mildly psychoactive especially at low doses.

For the most tailored and precise dosing tinctures are the best option. Using a sublingual dropper, you can easily manage consistent dosing. Any of our CBD-rich tinctures can be helpful with anxiety, particularly our CBD:CBG blend (CBD:CBG 3:1 #230), which includes a lesser known but powerful cannabinoid (CBG) that is particularly indicated in addressing anxiety.

160# CBD Medley is a blend of 4 CBD -rich strains (ACDC, Valentine X, Electra and  Therapy A. Each strain has its own terpene signature and a blend offers the benefit of an enhanced entourage effect. 

If you are suffering from anxiety and have not obtained the relief you seek, look into cannabis and CBD. It could make all the difference.

Anxiety can also be a triggered response to social pressure, if you suffer from pre-event anxiety, if parties or a dental visit set you on edge CBD will relieve anxious symptoms effectively. 

Before starting a treatment program, it’s best to do so under the supervision of a medical provider. If you would prefer to work with us rather than another provider, we are always available for consultations to develop treatment plans and recommend the most suitable products.