Is There a Higher Prevalence of Periodontal Disease Among Cannabis Users?
At the time of writing, 34 states in the United States of America, including New York and Connecticut, have legalized some form of cannabis use. While Americans never stopped smoking or using cannabis in some fashion, a shift in public perception has led to more people taking up the habit. As cannabis increases in popularity, so do the potential health risks associated with the drug. cannabis use and an increased risk of periodontal disease. The Journal of the American Dental Association published a systematic review and meta-analysis of the research into cannabis use and periodontal disease in their July 2019 edition. Researchers identified clinical studies published through November 2018 in five electronic databases and gray literature. They included five separate studied which included 13,491 participants. Their analysis of the available data concluded that “the prevalence of periodontal disease in patients who reported cannabis used was 1.12 One common concern among dental professionals is the possible link between
times higher than that of patients who did not use cannabis.”
The authors reported no important concerns about their review process. However, it’s important to note that they lacked the data to determine if the populations in which these studies were conducted had populations with a high or low prevalence of periodontal disease. While cannabis users are likely to have a higher prevalence for periodontal disease, there is not enough evidence at this time to determine if cannabis use is a risk factor for periodontal disease. As cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, it is unlikely that we will see major research conducted to look into the possible connection between cannabis use and periodontal disease any time soon. However, as states continue to legalize medical and recreational cannabis use, it’s important for dental professionals to be ready to educate their patients on how to continue caring for their dental health.
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Vegan Biscuits With Maple ‘Butter’
INGREDIENTS
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● 1/2 cup nondairy milk, ideally soy, almond, or rice
For the Biscuits •
● 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
For the “Butter” •
• • •
1 tbsp baking powder
● 1 cup vegan margarine, room temperature
● 3/4 tsp salt
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● 1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup vegan margarine, plus extra for brushing
DIRECTIONS
1. 2.
Heat oven to 425 F.
In a bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. 3. Cut in margarine until you achieve a mealy texture with a few large margarine clumps. 4. Add milk and stir until just barely combined. 5. Spread out on cutting board and cut dough into rings. 6. Place on baking sheet, coat with margarine, and bake for 10–12 minutes. 7. For butter, fold together margarine and maple syrup. 8. Serve biscuits alongside butter.
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