Pot-Smokers Harm Gums; Other Physical Effects Slight

[zachw]

 

A long-term study of nearly 1,000 New Zealanders from birth to age 38 has found that people who smoked marijuana for up to 20 years have more gum disease, but otherwise do not show worse physical health than non-smokers.

 

The international research team assessed a dozen measures of physical health, including lung function, systemic inflammation and several measures of metabolic syndrome, including waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, glucose control and body mass index.

 

Tobacco users in the study, which appears online the week of June 1 in JAMA Psychiatry, were found to have gum disease as well as reduced lung function, systemic inflammation and indicators of poorer metabolic health.

 

“We can see the physical health effects of tobacco smoking in this study, but we don’t see similar effects for cannabis smoking,” said Madeline Meier, an assistant professor of psychology at Arizona State University who conducted the study with colleagues at Duke University, King’s College in the UK and the University of Otago in New Zealand.

 

While study participants who had used marijuana to some degree over the last 20 years showed an increase in periodontal disease from age 26 to 38, they did not differ from non-users on any of the other physical health measures. To measure cannabis use, they asked study subjects to self-report their use at ages 18, 21, 26, 32 and 38.

 

The study’s statistical analysis found that the decline in periodontal health in pot smokers was not explained by tobacco smoking, alcohol abuse or less tooth brushing and flossing. The lack of physical health problems among cannabis users also was not attributable to their having had better health to begin with or to living healthier lifestyles.

 

“We don’t want people to think, ‘Hey, marijuana can’t hurt me,’ because other studies on this same sample of New Zealanders have shown that marijuana use is associated with increased risk of psychotic illness, IQ decline and downward socioeconomic mobility,” Meier said.

 

“What we’re seeing is that cannabis may be harmful in some respects, but possibly not in every way,” said study co-author Avshalom Caspi, the Edward M. Arnett Professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke. “We need to recognize that heavy recreational cannabis use does have some adverse consequences, but overall damage to physical health is not apparent in this study.”

 

“Physicians should certainly explain to their patients that long-term marijuana use can put them at risk for losing some teeth,” said Terrie Moffitt, the Nannerl O. Keohane University Professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke and co-director of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, from which these data were gathered.

 

Here's the article.

 

AND DON'T FORGET TO FLOSS DAILY!!

[Restorium2]

That's a joke. They didn't see the dentist enough. I have perfect gums and have smoked cannabis for over 30 years. My dentist just shakes his head and wonders how I do it. My hygenist works for just a few minutes cleaning and I'm done. Perio charts are perfect. 

Sorry, wrong again. 

[t-pain]

can't find the harms, keep looking guys !! lol

[Restorium2]

I actually think cannabis might help your periodontal health! Maybe not the gleaming whiteness some think shows health. That unnatural whiteness is scary. 

[Wild Bill]

Don't forget to massage your gums!

 

[imiubu]

Did they run a genetic profile or w/e it's called ?

There is some controversy yet it is widely believed that periodontal disease could be/ is genetically predetermined.

Environment plays a role also.

[t-pain]

I actually think cannabis might help your periodontal health!

i think you are correct!

 

they say cannabis heals bones

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/20/can-pot-heal-broken-bones-the-answer-is-yes-study-finds/

 

 

your teeth are bones.

 

 

hops leaves are good for teeth, fighting tooth decay. of course hops are not cannabis, but they are in the same plant family and i think they just havent done this research on cannabis leaves.

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2014/acs-presspac-march-5-2014/Hop-leaves-discarded-in-beer-brewing-have-substances-that-could-fight-dental-diseases.html

 

of course dry mouth (or drinking sugar pop to beat dry mouth) is bad for teeth and gums. so always drink some water and stay hydrated!

[cristinew]

http://worldental.org/dental-news/zealanders-worse-dental-health-australians-study-shows/ 

 

New Zealanders Have Worse Dental Health Than Australians, Study Shows

 

According to a recent study, adults in New Zealand are more exposed to gum disease and tooth decay than Australians.

 

The research has been conducted by a dentist Dr. Alex McIntosh, who concluded that the income plays a major role for the occurrence.

In New Zealand people have less disposable income than in Australia, which is why the majority cannot afford proper medical dental care.

[Alphabob]

As odd as it may seem cannabis does have a mechanism that can cause periodontal disease and it is commonly referred to as ‘cotton mouth’. In fact, any drug (prescription or not) that causes dry mouth (xerostomia) can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Some diseases that shut off or destroy saliva glands also cause severe problems such as Sjogren’s disease. Your saliva protects your teeth and gums, if you have a dry mouth for too long you will build up damage over time.

 

Many Common Drugs Promote Tooth Decay
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/05/000529093840.htm

 

There are products out there for chronic dry mouth such as Biotene!

 

Regardless their sample might be a little biased with conclusions like “increased risk of psychotic illness, IQ decline and downward socioeconomic mobility”.

 

There has been some studies that show people who are young (<18 years old) have an increased risk of psychotic illness at a later age when using cannabis. No legit study has shown anything related to IQ and anything related to downward socioeconomic mobility is likely due to social factors such as being arrested and losing your job. Instead, cannabis actually promotes deeper sleep cycles that allow more long-term memory storage/transfer and seems to only affect short-term memory in limited cases.

 

http://www.leafscience.com/2013/11/25/5-ways-marijuana-affects-sleep/
"Studies show that THC can increase the amount of slow-wave sleep, also known as deep sleep, that an user experiences during their slumber."

 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160414214830.htm

"Their study provides for the first time a mechanistic explanation for how deep sleep (also called slow-wave sleep) may be promoting the consolidation of recent memories."

Edited June 5, 2016 by Alphabob

[Mpharns]

It's the dry mouth syndrome that causes this.

[Restorium2]

Nope. It doesn't. Sounds like it might but it doesn't. Don't be fooled by BS that sounds like it might be right. If you have gum disease you have it for other reasons than cannabis smoking. More likely no dental health care and not seeing a dentist often enough. I know quite a few people who have smoked cannabis for over 30 years without this disease. In fact, all the chronic smokers of cannabis I know don't have gum disease at all. Only the people I know that smoked cigarettes too have it. 

[Restorium2]

There was one thing in that piece that was true;

 

“We don’t want people to think, ‘Hey, marijuana can’t hurt me,’

[Restorium2]

It's a universal line being fed to us right now. I watched the drug czar yesterday, our drug czar, the guy who runs the war on drugs in America. He was on TV making the rounds. He said he is a recovered alcoholic. Comes to tears talking about it while he's supposed to be talking about marijuana. Why even talk about alcohol in the same piece? Because he wants to save all of us potheads from pot like he was saved from alcohol. Tells a really convincing sob story until he gets to the science. Then he quotes a bunch of BS studies and cries even more. 

Then he comes to his punch line, just like in this piece;

 

“I don’t want people to think, ‘Hey, marijuana can’t hurt me,’

[cristinew]

It's the dry mouth syndrome that causes this.

NO  it is this You are here: Home / Dental News / New Zealanders Have Worse Dental Health Than Australians, Study Shows

New Zealanders Have Worse Dental Health Than Australians, Study Shows

 

According to a recent study, adults in New Zealand are more exposed to gum disease and tooth decay than Australians.

The research has been conducted by a dentist Dr. Alex McIntosh, who concluded that the income plays a major role for the occurrence.

In New Zealand people have less disposable income than in Australia, which is why the majority cannot afford proper medical dental care.

The Australian government also plays a major active role in providing people with proper medical care.

In New Zealand, things are different.

The doctor further states in a kidding tone that New Zealanders favor spending high amounts at the hairdresser’s, and leave dental care aside.

The general mentality is that people visit the dentist only when a “crisis” occurs.

 

As already known, the greater the damage and the more complicated treatments one needs, the more expensive the venture.

Dr. McIntosh advises people to go to regular check-ups with their dentist.

Gum disease can be avoided completely, if treated in time. Whenever bleeding occurs while bruising your teeth, than is an indicator of gum disease.

Here are the main results of the study based on the general habits of 5,000 citizens of New Zealand:

 

• 35% suffer from tooth decays that are untreated
• 33% suffer from gum disease which is untreated
• At least 25% have felt pain in the jaw area or mouth in the last few weeks.

Dr. McIntosh concludes that the high cost of dental care and fear of the dentist are the two main reasons for people avoiding to get regular checkups.

However, it is much better to get proper treatment in time, than suffer from dental pain and having your pockets drained in order to be able to pay for the services.

[Restorium2]

Plaque causes gum disease. Get it scraped off by a dental hygienist every 6 months and you will not have gum disease. If you let it stay there you will have gum disease. There's no mystery about it. 

[beourbud]

Don't fall for this crap.

 

We are being inundated with negative propaganda against home grows and smoking our meds.

The fknrepublicans want to take your grow rights and force you to buy their proprietary snake oil.

 

Some things to watch for;

 

Reducing weights and plant counts

Forcing indoor grows

Tops on an outdoor grow. (Caged Weed)

Inspections

Testing

General badmouthing home grows or the CG/PT system

Articles like this throwing shade on our meds,

 

Anyone posting crap like this is not our friend.

The lobbiests are scraping the barrel to find something, anything to curb our enthusiasm .

 

Tell them loud and clear....Get off Our Grass

Edited June 6, 2016 by beourbud

[Alphabob]

@cristinew

 

The initial study mentioned that even when they accounted for starting health and other factors the effect was still observed. Unless there are methodological errors in the publication then this would be difficult to argue against, as it is based upon statistics.

 

The study’s statistical analysis found that the decline in periodontal health in pot smokers was not explained by tobacco smoking, alcohol abuse or less tooth brushing and flossing. The lack of physical health problems among cannabis users also was not attributable to their having had better health to begin with or to living healthier lifestyles.

 

However, it is well established that having chronic dry mouth will cause gum disease and tooth decay, it doesn’t matter what causes the dry mouth. I’m not talking about smoking once a week and having dry mouth for a few hours or waking up with a little bit of a dry mouth, but instead for longer periods when there's basically no saliva in your mouth on a daily basis.

 

Cannabis is not nearly as bad as most medications that cause dry mouth such as opioids, but it can cause problems if you are predisposed or constantly smoke and have dry mouth. Perhaps cannabis smokers have additional problems due to increased sugary drinks or less dental care, but that study claims to account for those factors.

Edited June 6, 2016 by Alphabob

[Restorium2]

^^^ they were lying. 

[cristinew]

This is an anti pot study with zero facts

NIDA Notes: Researchers Speak—Dr. Madeline Meier on Marijuana and IQ  this person in the anti drug Speak—Dr. Madelinn this video, Dr. Madeline Meier discusses her study of marijuana and IQ.

[cristinew]

She is the Anti drug anti pot propagandist she is lying ,

[cristinew]

 

Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife

1. Madeline H. Meier

[cristinew]

.. Researchers Speak features Dr. Madeline Meier of Duke University discussing the effects of marijuana use on IQ. Dr. Meier ... DEA & Medical Cannabis .

[cristinew]

https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/nida-notes/podcasts/2013/09/dr-madeline-meier-0

 

 

see who she works for, Do not fall for her propaganda her studies are junk science 

[cristinew]

This latest finding comes on top of another paper published in Clinical Psychological Science in March, in which Meier and colleagues found that persistent cannabis use is associated with worse socioeconomic outcomes.

[cristinew]

https://arizonadailyindependent.com/tag/dr-madeline-meier/

 

https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2014/11/01/top-prosecutors-call-on-arizona-leaders-to-oppose-legalized-marijuana/

 

Here she is again anti medical and anti legal working with the police and prosecutors, How could anyone believe her anti pot propaganda , When you see this kind of stories look deep into who is behind the so called studies , 

Edited June 6, 2016 by cristinew