Marijuana May Increase Gum Disease

Frequent use of marijuana may triple the risk of severe gum disease, a study suggests. Tobacco already was known to raise the risk of periodontal disease. This is an infection of the gums and other tissues that support the teeth. It can lead to tooth loss. Researchers in New Zealand wanted to know if marijuana had a similar effect. The study included 903 people. Some had smoked marijuana an average of almost once a week for about 15 years. They were three times as likely to have severe gum disease as nonsmokers of marijuana. Reuters Health news service reported on the study February 5. It was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.