Back in September 2018, my husband woke up with what he thought was a raging toothache. Before the day was over, his cheek had swollen to double in size. It never occurred to either one of us that (cannabidiol) CBD and toothaches may be a winning combination to manage the pain.
He normally has good pain tolerance, so I knew he was hurting.
At the Hospital
As luck would have it, we were not even near our dentist. We were starting a house sit in St. Catherine’s, Ontario so we had no idea where the hospital was and had to Google it.
If you have gone to a hospital before for an emergency, then you know there is usually a long wait. He left at about 7:15 in the morning and was back at approximately 10 a.m.
Asking him how he made out, he flashed a couple of prescriptions at me – one for amoxicillin and one for Tylenol 3 which contains codeine.
The jobs of both of these drugs are:
Amoxicillin- an antibiotic used to eliminate an infection.
Tylenol 3- a version of over-the-counter Tylenol that contains Codeine and is for severe pain.
The doctor had told him that his gums were infected and said he would have to take both prescriptions for 7 days. She also asked him if he was on any medication, and he said that he took medical marijuana and CBD for pain management.
“It is interesting to note here that in 2012 in Ontario alone, almost 218,000 people (one every three minutes) were going to doctors for teeth and gum problems.”
“In the UK, 600,000 people a year, or roughly 11,000 per week, who develop dental problems go to a GP rather than a dentist. Twenty-six % of adults surveyed claimed it was because of the high cost of dental treatment. GPs do not have the training to deal with these ailments, especially for root treatment or extractions. Painkillers and antibiotics are not a solution!”
If my husband hadn’t been in so much pain, or if we were near our dentist, I don’t believe he would have gone to the hospital for treatment.
On our way to Walmart to get the prescriptions filled, I thought about what he said and thought – can you use CBD for toothaches?
But First, What Is An Abscessed Tooth/Gums?
Definition: It is a pocket of pus that forms in different parts of the tooth because of bacterial infection. If not treated, it can spread to the gums and bone and cause moderate-to-severe pain that can sometimes radiate to the ear or neck. On a scale of one to ten, I would say my husband’s pain was about a 9 with a great deal of swelling.
There are three main types of abscesses:
(1) Periapical abscess – an abscess at the tip of a tooth’s root which then spreads to the surrounding bone caused by a dead or decaying tooth.
(2) Periodontal abscess – an abscess on the gum next to the root of a tooth usually caused by an infection in the space between the tooth and gum. It can occur if food gets trapped between the gum and the tooth.
(3) Gingival abscess – an abscess that is not an ordinary periodontal infection and can cause severe inflammation.
The Canadian Dental Association estimates that seven out of 10 Canadians will develop gum disease during their lifetime.
Most likely, the doctor never made a ‘specific’ diagnosis; however, she did suggest he see a dentist as soon as possible.
Since my husband went to the hospital instead of a dentist they did not perform the following procedure which I understand is standard:
- Clean the area thoroughly.
- Allow the pus to escape
- Treat the infection.
Out of the three, he did prescribe the above medication for the infection which he is to take for 7 days.
Can Having An Abscessed Tooth Be Dangerous?
Apparently! An abscessed tooth can cause serious oral health problems if left untreated. This can result in serious tooth decay, allowing bacteria to infect the center (pulp) of the tooth.
What can happen if left untreated?
- Infection of the surrounding bone which could require surgery to remove the bone.
- Tooth loss. If it is treated early root canal or a crown may save the tooth. If not, implants may be necessary.
- Infection in sinuses.
- Septicemia could set in which means the entire bloodstream is infected.
- Abscess of the brain could occur which requires hospitalization and is difficult to treat.
- Possible death – widespread infection in the body or brain can become too severe to be treated.
Who knew abscessed teeth and gums could be so serious? I didn’t!
CBD and Toothaches – Does it Help
Upon returning home, I headed to my laptop and did some googling.
What do we know about CBD?
- It is a known antibacterial.
- It is an analgesic.
- It is an antiseptic.
- It is good for periodontal therapy.
Let’s explore these a little bit further.
Antibacterial – The medical definition is “anything that destroys bacteria or suppresses their growth or their ability to reproduce.”
Analgesic – Medicines that provide pain relief.
Antiseptic – A substance that discourages the growth and development of bacteria.
Periodontal therapy – This is a surgical OR non-surgical technique to restore health to the tissues that support the teeth (gums and bone) and prevent tooth loss.
To my way of thinking, these are all positive benefits of CBD.
Note: CBD should not preclude dental hygiene – ie regular brushing and regular visits to your dentist or at the first sign of an infection.
CBD and Toothaches – Suggested Products
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CBDistillery offers 5000mg CBD oil per 30 ml bottle. Each serving contains over twice the CBD content per serving of their 2500mg tincture! 
Make sure to ask your doctor if you are planning on taking CBD with any other medication.
Final Thoughts
As it turns out, my husband did not see a dentist but maybe he should have, even though the pain and swelling subsided. As for the CBD, he is taking it anyway to manage back, leg, and hip pain. Maybe if he gets a tooth infection again, he will consider CBD. One of our readers, in the comment section below, said she found it very effective for pain relief with her periodontal abscess.
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute a legal or medical endorsement. It is up to you to seek medical attention or advice from a medical practitioner and to make sure CBD or medical marijuana is legal in your area of residence. See the full medical disclaimer here.
FDA DISCLOSURE
Have you ever taken CBD products for a toothache or gum issue? Let us know if it helped.
UPDATE APRIL 23, 2020
Since 1994, I have suffered on and off with chronic pain as a result of degenerative joint changes in both my hips and knees. After refusing traditional pharmaceutical prescriptions as I felt they were invasive to my body, I started researching CBD products, specifically oils and medical marijuana products. I am happy to say that I have been taking them for over 3 years with tremendous success!
Hi thanks for the insightful post about your husbands experiences with CBD and his tooth. I would say that CBD as it is derived naturally has to be a better option than prescribed medication unless a doctor says otherwise. Every time I hear about CBD I get encouraged to know society is finally waking to the benefits of this natural wonder. Thanks, Kenny
Hi Kenny. I have to agree with you that CBD is proving more effective all the time and many people, especially seniors, are tired of the medical expenses and the horrible side effects of traditional medicine. Of course, as you suggest, listening to your doctor is important. I always tell everyone I am not a doctor and that they should seek the opinion of someone who is or is in the medical profession.
My friend sells CBD oils and honestly she is the last person I ever thought would do that. However someone convinced her into trying the oils for some very serious pre existing conditions and the oils literally changed her life. I am still on the fence but definitely leaning towards trying the oils for some of my pains.
Hi Dale. It is true, the person you least expect is the one who surprises you. I was the same. I am sure my friends never expected me to turn to CBD oil. It is OK to sit on the fence. You will know when the time is right to try it. Good luck!
I think we’re only really scratching the surface with the benefits of CBD and other elements of cannabis – it’s actually a shame it’s taken us this long to get to this point, when alcohol (the killer) has been freely available for centuries.
I used to use weed, for all the wrong purposes mind, and I’ve never really had anything against it. I find it near enough madness that so many medical benefits are now linked to it…yet it is still very much illegal in my country (Wales, UK).
This was yet another interesting article – I’ve been through several on your site now and they are quite an eye-opener!
P.S. Hope you husband’s gums are better! 🙂
Hi Chris. I’ve always said the things that are considered really bad for you, like alcohol, tobacco and gambling, are what makes our governments so rich!
There are so many people who claim how CBD has helped them. In my own case, if I allow myself to run out of CBD oil, my aches and pains return to my legs and hips and a good night’s sleep is almost impossible.
I appreciate that you have read some of my other articles. I should check into the UK more and see what is happening there.
How do I treat tooth? Can I put CBD right on it?
Hello Georgette,
Without knowing the exact nature of your toothache (is it abscessed or aching), I can give you some general guidelines: apply CBD oil directly to the affected tooth and gums. You can use sprays, oils or tinctures and use a clean finger to spread over the tooth and surrounding gums.
If you don’t have oils but have capsules or pills, you can use the powder and also apply to the area.
Of course, it is best to consult a dentist before doing any of the above, especially if you are already taking prescribed drugs, as he/she will be able to properly advise you.
I started using CBD again for pain and inflammation after neck surgery because pain meds alone weren’t cutting it. I have also been suffering from a periodontal abscess, and haven’t taken any antibiotics for it yet. I decided to put a drop directly on the area that was hurting and inflamed. At first i felt it made the pain worse, but the next morning the abscess started draining on its own and the pain was gone. I continued the CBD under my tongue and a few days later the pain, inflammation, discoloration, everything… Completely gone.
Wow, Kristen. What a great testimonial. Having a toothache is very unpleasant, especially when you have an abscess. I am so happy that the CBD worked for you. Interesting that it was more painful at first but maybe that was just the CBD working. Thanks for sharing!