Risques bucco-dentaires liés au cannabidiol (CBD) dans des produits consommés par les personnes âgées : fleurs à fumer, gouttes, tisanes, confiseries, dentifrices, etc.

Cannabidiol (CBD) comes from Cannabis sativa or it is obtained by synthesis. It is not hallucinogenic and does not induce addiction, and since 2021 “wellness” products containing cannabidiol have been authorized in France, offered against stress, anxiety, sleep disorders and chronic pain. We conducted a survey among pharmacies, tobacco shops and “CBD shops”. The market for seniors is very limited but seems to be growing, and they mainly buy flowers to smoke to mix with tobacco. But there is a high risk of drug interactions and adverse effects (drowsiness, falls, car accidents). Moreover, the long-term consumption of smoked cannabidiol, in herbal teas, candies or toothpaste for example, leads to a topical application of cannabidiol in the mouth. It is also excreted in saliva. As it has anti-inflammatory properties, it could reduce the immune system’s defences against oral infections (cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, oral candidiasis), which are very common in elderly people. This risk is not described in the health authorities’warnings. In practice, when a patient asks for advice on cannabidiol, the doctor and pharmacist could advise him to consult his dentist.