The pain and inflammation caused by mouth ulcers can be irritating and disruptive, especially when there are so many reasons to smile. Although mouth ulcers are small, they are a true nuisance. You could treat them with over-the-counter medications and medicated mouth washes, but those methods do not always work. What if there was another way? You may be thinking about trying cannabidiol (CBD) to help with mouth ulcers, being that CBD is a known anti-inflammatory [1]. Yet, while the potential is there, research is currently limited. Here is what you need to know about using CBD for oral wounds, like mouth ulcers.
What Are Mouth Ulcers?
Mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores, are small, painful sores that develop on the soft tissues inside the mouth—gums, lips, palate, and inner cheeks [2]. These sores can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Injury or trauma to the mouth, such as biting the inside of your cheek or tongue
- Stress or anxiety
- Certain foods, such as citrus or acidic fruits, spicy foods, or salty snacks
- Hormonal changes, such as during menstruation
- Deficiencies in certain nutrients, such as vitamin B12, iron, or folate
- Certain medical conditions, such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or HIV/AIDS
- Certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, or chemotherapy drugs
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Genetic factors
In most cases, you do not have to worry about mouth ulcers too much. Though they are painful, canker sores typically heal within a week or two, with or without treatment. Most commonly, mouth ulcers are not serious and can be treated with over-the-counter remedies and self-care. That said, if you find that topical medications and oral rinses are not helping, you may be tempted to try other alternatives, such as cannabidiol.
Please keep in mind that, if your canker sores are particularly large, painful, or persistent, your healthcare provider may recommend prescription-strength topical or oral medications, or other medical interventions, depending on the underlying cause of the ulcers.
Can CBD Help With Mouth Ulcers?
As you may be aware, cannabidiol interacts with something known as the endocannabinoid system, or ECS. The ECS is found throughout the body, including the skin and mouth, otherwise known as the integumentary system. In a medical review from 2020 discussing the role of cannabinoids for wound management, it was found that these compounds “modulate key molecular pathways of wound healing,” such as reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, speeding up wound closure, and reducing fibrosis, which may lessen scarring [3].
In a more recent study from 2021, researchers found that using a CBD oral spray on mice with mouth ulcers caused by acid or trauma can reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and speed up healing [4]. CBD also affects certain genes and proteins that are involved in the body’s immune response to inflammation, such as the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and pyroptosis. CBD seems to work by blocking a protein called CMPK2, which is involved in inflammation, and by activating certain receptors in the body that help to regulate the immune system.
Other studies not focused on canker sores have also found some evidence that inflammation within the mouth may be safely reduced when using either hemp extract or CBD. For instance, a study published in the August 2022 edition of Oral Biology stated that both hemp extract and CBD inhibited certain immune responses better than hydrocortisone when used to heal gingival wounds [5]. The researchers concluded that short term exposure promoted fibroblast wound healing, demonstrating potential therapeutic use for oral ulcers and inflammation.
Overall, these findings suggest that CBD could be a promising treatment for oral ulcers, but more research is needed to fully understand how it works and how to use it safely and effectively.
Can CBD Do Anything For Oral Mucositis?
Similar to canker sores but much more severe, oral mucositis is a condition that causes inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes that line the mouth, throat, and digestive tract. It is a common side effect of cancer treatment, particularly radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
There has been some research conducted on the benefits of using CBD when diagnosed with oral mucositis. In an animal study from 2022, researchers hypothesized that cannabidiol may act as an anti-inflammatory for oral mucositis [6]. They used two substances called deoxycholic acid and fucoidan to create tiny particles called nanomicelles that target inflammation in the body. They then added CBD to these particles. Essentially, this made something of a mouthwash that would be dripped into the mouths of the mice.
The resulting CBD-loaded nanomicelles (CBD/FD) were very small and uniform in size, and they stayed stable in the bloodstream for a long time. When the researchers gave these CBD/FD particles to mice with oral mucositis, they found that the particles helped to reduce inflammation and promote healing of the sores. The particles also reduced the number of inflammatory cells in the area and blocked a protein called NF-κB that is involved in inflammation.
Overall, these results suggest that CBD-loaded nanomicelles could be a promising treatment for oral mucositis, although more research is needed to confirm these findings and to develop a safe and effective way to use these particles in humans.
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Any kind of oral ulcer or inflammation is painful and may be disruptive to your life. As such, it makes sense to exhaust all potential avenues of relief. Though more research must be conducted before it can be said with certainty, CBD may one day be used as a treatment for canker sores and other mouth-related wounds.
At Sugar Bottom Hemp, we take pride in the high quality of our CBD products. Each product is made with CBD sourced from organically grown hemp from the US and is extracted using only the safest, cleanest methods. Why not try a CBD tincture, like our Daily Zen Chill, and see what it does for you? Have questions about our CBD products? Feel free to contact us at anytime.
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Bibliography
- Henshaw, F. R., Dewsbury, L. S., Lim, C. K., & Steiner, G. Z. (2021). The Effects of Cannabinoids on Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 6(3), 177–195. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2020.0105
- Canker Sore (Aphthous Ulcer). (2005, July 11). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/canker-sores
- Weigelt, M. A., Sivamani, R. K., & Lev-Tov, H. (2021). The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for integumentary wound management. Experimental Dermatology, 30(2), 201–211. https://doi.org/10.1111/exd.14241
- Qi X, Lin W, Wu Y, et al. CBD Promotes Oral Ulcer Healing via Inhibiting CMPK2-Mediated Inflammasome. Journal of Dental Research. 2022;101(2):206-215. doi:10.1177/00220345211024528
- Kongkadee, K., Wisuitiprot, W., Ingkaninan, K., & Waranuch, N. (2022). Anti-inflammation and gingival wound healing activities of Cannabis sativa L. subsp. sativa (hemp) extract and cannabidiol: An in vitro study. Archives of Oral Biology, 140, 105464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archoralbio.2022.105464
- Liu, Y., Qi, X., Wang, Y., Li, M., Yuan, Q., & Zhao, Z. (2022). Inflammation-targeted cannabidiol-loaded nanomicelles for enhanced oral mucositis treatment. Drug delivery, 29(1), 1272–1281. https://doi.org/10.1080/10717544.2022.2027572
