How To Fix Cotton Mouth From Weed

Using cannabis and having a dry mouth seem to get hand in hand. Whether yous telephone call it dry mouth, cotton oral fissure or mucilaginous mouth, it can exist quite annoying! Simply do cannabis users merely take to put upwards with information technology? Or is there a way to get rid of information technology? Hither'due south a look into studies that testify probable causes, and what cannabis users can do to avert a constant dry mouth.

Cannabis users all over the globe are sure to be familiar with that glutinous, dry, pasty sensation that affects the oral fissure after smoking cannabis. In fact, it is so inevitable that people rarely question the machinery at work behind this strange little phenomenon—except for a handful of researchers who believe they know why it happens.

How is saliva formed?

Kickoff, we should take a brief look at the process of saliva product. It appears that saliva formation involves a two-stage process. Initially, specialised cells known as acinar cells secrete a fluid that is similar in composition to plasma. This fluid and then passes through the salivary ducts on its way to the oral cavity, and equally it does so, sodium and chloride are removed from it and potassium and bicarbonate are added to it. This process is what produces the final 'hypotonic solution' that is secreted into the mouth.

A human head and the areas that make saliva are highlighted in orange

Secretion of saliva is controlled past the parasympathetic nervous organisation (PSNS). The PSNS is responsible for various metabolic processes related to food intake, appetite, and anticipation of eating.

Receptors in the salivary glands are activated via impulses from the chorda tympani nerve. This important nerve originates in the taste buds before travelling through the submandibular ganglion (the cluster of nerve cells in the submandibular gland) and on to the brain. The chorda tympani nerve releases a chemical compound known as acetylcholine, which is 1 of the trunk's main saliva-stimulating substances and works directly on the receptors of the submandibular gland.

Another important compound involved in salivary secretions is known as norepinephrine. This chemical compound is released by the preganglionic nerves that lie upstream from the submandibular ganglion. It works direct on the myoepithelial cells that surround the acinar cells by causing them to contract, which then leads to the secretion of saliva.

CB-receptors in the salivary glands

Several studies show that cannabis use can cause oral dryness. In 1986, a study into the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) noted that the side-furnishings of assistants of oral CBD included dry mouth. Since then, several other studies have besides observed cannabinoid-induced oral dryness. The scientific name for oral dryness is xerostomia.

A human body with CB1 and CB2 receptors highlighted in yellow and orange

Mayhap the about in-depth written report on cannabis-induced xerostomia to date was performed past researchers at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentine republic in 2006. The researchers institute that cannabinoid receptors type 1 and 2 are present in the submandibular glands, which lie below the floor of the mouth and are responsible for producing 60-67% of the saliva.

The researchers found that the endocannabinoid agonist anandamide (AEA) binds with loftier affinity to the glandular cannabinoid receptors and blocks the action of the saliva-inducing compounds norepinephrine and methacholine, leading to a decrease in the secretion of saliva.

Every bit mentioned above, these saliva-inducing compounds are part of the normal working of the parasympathetic nervous system. THC is also an agonist of the CB receptors, and is probable to touch the receptors of the submandibular glands in a similar manner.

The fundamental function of the endocannabinoid system

Interestingly, the Buenos Aires written report besides concluded that the role of the endocannabinoid organization is not limited to blocking signals at the submandibular glands themselves. The nervous impulses that are expressed via the chorda tympani also originate in the brain.

The researchers hypothesized that intravenous assistants of cannabinoids via the femoral vein not only exerted their main outcome via the submandibular glands, merely may also have acted on the cannabinoid receptors in the brain itself. They argued that a central nervous system mechanism helps to control product of saliva at glandular level.

A man in a white shirt drinking from a glass of water

The fact that the endocannabinoid system is and so fundamentally involved with the inhibition of salivary secretions implies that it likewise has a function to play in causing the production of saliva. If an agonist or adversary of the cannabinoid receptors inhibits salivation, it is likely that an inverse agonist such equally the synthetic cannabinoid AM-251 may cause a reversal of this effect and an increase in salivation.

Indeed, the Buenos Aires written report also demonstrated that the presence of AM-251 partly reversed the outcome of AEA (although in that location appears to be a lack of consensus as to whether AM-251 is an antagonist or an inverse agonist).

How to get rid of dry out mouth after cannabis utilise

Experiencing a dry oral fissure and pharynx after cannabis use is extremely common, and oftentimes information technology does not take much cannabis to induce this effect. All the same, during a heavy session, the dry-mouth effect tin can often increase until it becomes extremely unpleasant.

A woman with glitter on her lips holding a yellow lollipop

If experiencing unpleasant cotton oral cavity, in that location are a number of things y'all can do to help convalesce it. A few of these include:

Stay hydrated! This will mitigate the issue to some extent
Chew gum – This can besides aid, equally the activity of chewing stimulates the salivary glands to produce more than saliva
Employ ice cubes or lollies to suck on, which can too help keep saliva flowing
Similarly, foods that require decisive chewing such every bit dried fruit or beef hasty tin also assistance stimulate the production of saliva

A woman wearing a blue shirt blowing pink bubblegum

For more complete relief, using a demulcent (a substance that coats a mucous membrane with a moist 'movie') designed for oral use should suffice. Many dissimilar prescription medications can cause users to experience dry mouth, so there are numerous oral demulcents commercially available to combat the problem.

In the hereafter, research into the specific nature of the endocannabinoid system and how it controls the process of salivation may yield targeted products that can contrary the effect of xerostomia. This would benefit non just those who take smoked a petty too much cannabis, but as well individuals suffering from a range of weather (or taking certain medications) that cause a permanent state of cotton oral fissure.

Disclaimer:

This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your dr. or other licensed medical professional. Do not delay seeking medical advice or condone medical advice due to something y'all have read on this website.