Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here

take action
For every $1 states spend dollar sign on substance misuse and addiction, 94 cents go to shovel up the consequences instead of for treatment and prevention. TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS

What Can I Do?



Continuing Education
Free online courses for addiction counselors LEARN ONLINE

Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP

 
Chronic Marijuana Use Can Cause Gum Disease, Researchers Say
February 21, 2008

Share Share Email
Email
Print
Print
SubscribeSubscribe
Research Summary

Marijuana smokers can develop gum disease even if they don't also smoke cigarettes, according to new research.

A study of 900 adults ages 26 to 32 in New Zealand found that one-third of the new cases of gum disease discovered among the group were due to smoking marijuana. "That really surprised us," lead researcher Murray Thomson said.

The researchers said that even those who only smoked marijuana once a week increased their risk of gum disease threefold compared to nonsmokers. Toxins in marijuana impair circulation and prevent the gums from healing themselves, Thomson and colleagues said.

The study was published in the Feb. 6, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
This article summarizes an external report or press release on research published in a scientific journal. When available, links to the sources are provided above.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:
(Comments now appear first to last)

Your Turn! Post a public comment (guidelines):

Name:

Comment:
(limit 250
words)
Enter this word
(help):		 Change

GUIDELINES: 
To keep this feature useful for everyone, please:

  1. Keep it clean, courteous, brief, and on-topic. Comments are for discussion of the above article, not general rants or manifestos. Serial comments intended to circumvent the 250-word limit may be deleted.

  2. Do not post promotional web links, personal information or requests for assistance (get help).

  3. Proof your comments carefully, use good spelling and punctuation, and don't use ALL CAPS. Comments are published immediately and cannot be edited.

Deceptive, slanderous and commercial posts are prohibited. We reserve the right to remove comments. (Report a comment).

Have questions or feedback? Contact us.