Coating Dentures With CBD Can Help Prevent Oral Infections, Government-Funded Study Shows

A newly published journal article says the cannabis component CBD could be an effective way to avoid oral infections when incorporated into the primary material used in dentures.

Published last month in the journal Molecules, the government-funded research says bonding CBD to dentures demonstrates “potential for antibiotic-free denture coatings, reducing dental biofilms and plaque formation, and improving oral health outcomes.”

To study the properties of CBD in dentures, researchers incorporated the cannabinoid into a type of plastic known as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which the paper explains is “the primary material for dentures due to its favorable physical and aesthetic qualities.” Researchers then tested antimicrobial activity against three types of bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae.

Results showed that the CBD denture coatings had “significant bactericidal effects” against so-called Gram-positive bacteria. In terms of Gram-negative bacteria—which are typically more resistant to antibiotics—the CBD coating was ineffective against free-floating, so-called “planktonic” Gram-negative bacteria but effectively eliminated communities of bacteria known as biofilms.

“Biofilm studies revealed a 99% reduction in biofilm growth for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria on CBD-infused PMMA compared to standard PMMA,” the report says. “The CBD disrupted bacterial cell ways, causing lysis,” or the breakdown of the cell itself.

“In summary,” authors wrote, “biofilm studies showed PMMA/CBD coatings were effective in eradicating all the pathogens on their surface.”

“This study showed that CBD can be incorporated into materials, enabling antibiotic-free dentures for preventing dental biofilms and reducing dental plaques.”

In some cases, the differences between CBD-infused plastic and normal PMMA were striking. For example, growth of the bacteria S. agalactiae on untreated PMMA “was significantly 10,000 times greater” compared to the CBD-treated sample.

“The addition of CBD in the coatings provided a 99% reduction in S. aureus and E. coli biofilms, and a 99.99% reduction in S. agalactiae biofilms,” the report says.

The paper appeared in a special issue of Molecules dedicated to the antibacterial applications of so-called “intelligent polymer materials,” and was federally funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

“This investigation presents a pioneering approach for the development of antibiotic-free coatings, offering an alternative to conventional methods,” wrote the five-author research team, from Western University in Ontario, Canada.

One area in need of further study is how to craft coatings that can release antibiofilm agents in a controlled, sustained manner, authors noted. “This sustained release will maintain effective concentrations of the CBD over an extended period, maximizing their ability to disrupt biofilms and eliminate bacteria within them,” they said.

In the study, researchers found a “burst release” of CBD for the first 12 hours followed by “a steady release into the surrounding environment in vitro afterward.”

Future research should also examine why the CBD coating was ineffective against planktonic bacteria but successfully eradicated biofilms of the same bacteria.

“Further investigations on the gene expressions involved in biofilm maintenance, development, and maturation of factors associated with exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthesis and CBD could be studied to better understand its antibiofilm mechanisms,” the paper says. “Other scopes of research could be CBD and its effect on the biosynthesis of fimbriae, surface proteins, virulence factor genes, and other bacterial structures involved in adherence to surfaces.”

The new findings come as a separate study found that CBD could offer a promising treatment for a common type of vaginal infection.

That report similarly focused on biofilms, specifically of the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis, which is found naturally in the vagina but can also cause vaginosis when out of balance with other microbes. In laboratory tests, CBD demonstrated antibacterial and antioxidant effects that weakened G. vaginalis and eliminated biofilms.

“Our study shows that CBD exhibits antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against G. vaginalis clinical isolates,” that paper said, “and is thus a potential drug for the treatment of vaginosis caused by this bacterium.”

Another recent paper, published in the journal Pharmaceuticals, found that CBD could be a useful addition to certain skin products given its anti-aging and antioxidant properties as well as evidence that it may speed the healing of wounds.

“Overall, we suggest that CBD exhibits many potential characteristics that can be used to develop topical cosmeceutical products, such as sun protection products, hair care products, or wound healing products,” the study said, noting that low concentrations of the cannabinoid were also not toxic to cells during short-term treatment.

A report published last autumn by university researchers in India and Thailand found that cannabis oil containing CBD may also help promote the healing of skin wounds, writing that it offers “promising benefits” despite a need to better optimize product formulations.

That study looked specifically at how cannabis oil can reduce so-called “reactive oxygen species” (ROS) during the healing of wounds. Those chemicals “play a crucial role in would development by causing cell and tissue damage,” it explained.

“Increased ROS levels can hinder wound healing by exacerbating inflammation and cellular damage,” said the paper, published in the journal Pharmaceutics. “CBD’s antioxidant properties mitigate these effects, fostering a more conducive environment for tissue regeneration.”

Another paper, published last July in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, found that applying CBD-infused lotion to the skin appeared to be tied to a lower risk of damage from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Researchers at George Washington University, Northwestern University, the University of Miami and the Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research wrote that 21 percent of those who used the CBD cream had less damage than the control group that received a placebo. Another 47 percent had comparable damage, and 11 percent showed better results after taking the placebo versus the cannabis lotion.

The possible benefits aren’t limited to human applications.

A separate study, published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science last year, concluded that cannabis appears to be a “viable alternative” treatment option for dogs suffering from a common skin disease—especially if they experience adverse side effects from conventional steroid therapies

That study detailed the efficacy of full-spectrum CBD oil on a dog with the autoimmune disease discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). The condition, which causes hair loss and redness that could progress to lesions, is typically treated with corticosteroids and other medications that can put a strain on a dog’s liver.

A veterinarian prescribed a full-spectrum oil with a 2:1 THC:CBD ratio, which was administered orally—at first, one drop per day for three days and gradually increasing it “until the optimal dose for symptom control was identified.”

“Within a few weeks, the dog exhibited significant improvement in dermatological signs, accompanied by a concurrent improvement in liver function,” the study said. “Interestingly, the owner reported an improvement in the dog’s behavior shortly after discontinuing prednisolone and within the first day of receiving the cannabis oil.”

Another analysis, published this earlier year, found that more than 1 in 10 Americans reported consuming the non-psychoactive cannabis component within the past month, with prevalence significantly higher among people who also used marijuana itself.

7 In 10 Marijuana Consumers Plan To Spend More Or The Same Amount On Cannabis In 2025, Poll Finds

Photo courtesy of Kimzy Nanney.

The post Coating Dentures With CBD Can Help Prevent Oral Infections, Government-Funded Study Shows appeared first on Marijuana Moment.