Toothaches and Tinctures: Can CBD Ease Dental Pain?

The dentist’s chair, that confessional booth of pain, anxiety, and fluorescent lights, is not where you expect to find a conversation about cannabis or hemp. And yet, here we are. The age of the needle and the opioid is giving way—perhaps—to the age of the dropper and the cannabinoid.

It is no surprise that CBD—the well-behaved sibling of THC—is being explored as a potential alternative to opioids and NSAIDs for dental pain. The idea feels radical, yet deeply reasonable. The question has emerged from the mouths of the curious with chronic and acute toothaches alike: Can CBD actually help with dental pain?

Dentistry’s Need for Safer Tools

Dental pain is a top reason people visit with a healthcare provider (HCP)—and one of the most common triggers for opioid prescriptions. As an alternative to opioids, NSAIDs, like aspirin and ibuprofen, have limitations. NSAIDs can damage the stomach or kidneys with long-term use. Opioids carry risks for addiction and societal fallout.

“There’s an urgent need for more choices in pain management,” says Dr. JeanC Talleyrand, a cannabis specialist and co-founder of The Consortium and MediCann.

“The opioid crisis requires restricted use of opioids. Chronic NSAID use can cause gastric bleeding or kidney injury. CBD may be the solution.”

The Study That Got Everyone Talking

A group of researchers recently decided to find out if CBD might be a solution for dental pain. They gave pharmaceutical-grade CBD (yes, the kind you can’t buy at the gas station) to patients with serious tooth pain, right before dental work.

A 2024 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial recently discussed tested pharmaceutical-grade CBD (Epidiolex) in patients experiencing acute dental pain. This study represents the first prospective RCT evaluating purified CBD as a standalone analgesic in dentistry. The trial enrolled 61 adults with moderate to severe odontogenic pain and compared two single-dose CBD regimens (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) to placebo.

The results? Both low and high doses of CBD worked. Pain dropped fast—within 15 to 30 minutes—and kept falling for hours. People could bite down harder, without wincing. No one got high. A few got sleepy. Some got the runs.

But here’s the catch: the dose they used was massive. We’re talking 500 to 1000 milligrams—an amount that would leave your wallet howling louder than your molars. And the participants were not regular cannabis users – recent cannabis exposure was exclusion criteria for the study.

As Megan Mbengue, RN, a nurse and cannabis educator, put it:

“In real life, we see great results with 1–2mg of THC in full-spectrum CBD. This study used 1000mg of isolate CBD and didn’t even compare it to a $2 bottle of ibuprofen. That’s a problem.”

What the Experts Are Saying about the Good, the Risky, and the Real

CBD may not yet be ready to replace your dentist’s drill—or your dentist’s ibuprofen—but it’s starting to earn its place in the cabinet of curiosities that is modern medicine.

Dr. Jean Talleyrand, believes the real power of CBD lies in its broad scope. CBD’s multitarget nature may be an asset in oral health.

“Biological systems don’t operate in silos,” says Talleyrand, “It makes sense to use compounds like CBD that span both mind and body domains.”

“It’s not just CB1 and CB2 receptors. The endocannabinoid system is vast. CBD interacts with serotonin, vanilloid receptors, adenosine signaling, and the endocannabinoid system. Pain isn’t just in the tooth—it’s in the mind, the mood, the story.”

Codi Peterson, PharmD, agrees—but warns about the fine print:

“CBD won’t replace NSAIDs or opioids entirely, but it’s a lifesaver for people who can’t take them. Still, 1000mg is a heavy lift. I’d love to see research on CBD rinses or patches used after surgery—where pain and bacteria both matter.”

And Patti Ormiston, MS, Graduate faculty in medical cannabis science and therapeutics, reminds us:

“CBD works. It’s non-addictive, multi-targeted, and exciting for those looking beyond opioids. But the route of administration matters. So does cost. And so does the cannabis conversation we’re still struggling to have in the dental office.”

Martha Bajec, PhD, Bajec Senseworks Consulting, offers a caution:

“CBD’s multitarget action also raises a red flag for potential drug interactions, as CBD’s inhibition of enzymes like CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 (and possibly CYP2C9/2C8) can alter the metabolism of other commonly prescribed medications, so it’s always worth repeating that patients’ medication lists must be reviewed before recommending CBD-based analgesia.

And yes—CBD has antimicrobial effects that may rival mouthwash. Yes—it can soothe inflamed gums, and perhaps even boost healing. Yes—it relieves pain for some, and anxiety for others. And no—it won’t get you stoned by itself.

But also—smoking anything can dry your mouth, sweeten your cravings, and rot your teeth. THC doesn’t make flossing easier. Your favorite gummy might not be formulated for oral health.

So, What Now?

What we need are products that make sense: CBD toothpaste that’s tested, post-op CBD patches that relieve pain without knocking you out, and mouth rinses that fight plaque while calming the nerves. We need less noise, more nuance.

Codi Peterson, PharmD, also suggests a promising path forward:

“Topical or local CBD applications during dental surgery could offer dual pain relief and antimicrobial benefits. And future studies should track effects for 2–3 days post-procedure to better gauge durability.”

And we need to treat cannabis not as a miracle or menace—but as medicine or health product. Most of all we need conversations between patients and providers who listen.

Until then, let’s pause and try to speak plainly:

🦷 What’s Real

• CBD may reduce dental pain for a few hours—especially for people who can’t or don’t take NSAIDs or opioids.
• It may also reduce gum inflammation and bacterial growth.
• It works best when dosed and delivered correctly—and when not treated like magic.

🚫 What’s Not So Simple

• Most studies use huge doses. What you can buy at the corner store isn’t the same.
• Not all CBD is equal—mileage, performance, and THC content may vary by product.
• Side effects (like drowsiness or stomach issues) appear to be dose-dependent.
• THC-gummies will not magically clean your teeth.
• If you use cannabinoids weekly, we do not know if that helps or hinders dental pain.

💡 What’s Coming

• Research on topical CBD for surgery aftercare.
• Studies on multi-cannabinoid formulas (CBD + CBG?).
• Better understanding of CBD’s effects over several days, not just hours.

Rethinking Oral Health with CBD and the Dental Chair

As cannabis-derived products move from the dispensary to the dental clinic, healthcare professionals are asking a new question:

Could cannabinoids reshape how we manage oral health and dental pain?

While the risks of cannabis smoking are well known, recent research is shifting the spotlight toward non-smokable applications, especially cannabidiol (CBD), for acute symptom management.

So next time you’re in that big reclining chair, eyes to the fluorescent heavens, heart racing at the sound of the drill, remember: the future may not lie in novocaine alone. It may lie in the delicate, complex molecule of CBD—if only we take the time to understand it.

And if the dentist doesn’t bring it up? You can.

Conclusion: A Turning Point in Dental Therapeutics?

The Chrepa study is an important step in legitimizing cannabinoids as serious contenders in dental pain management. But enthusiasm must be tempered with caution—regarding dose, duration, cost, and formulation.

As our understanding of the ECS grows, and as more health care professionals—like Ormiston, Mbengue, Talleyrand, Bajec, and Peterson—weigh in, the vision for cannabinoid-integrated dentistry sharpens; safer, smarter, more tailored care for pain and inflammation. We seem to be getting closer, not farther, from the day when cannabinoid-infused rinses or post-op patches become part of the standard of care for dental health.