Cottonmouth: why the mouth gets dry after smoking
A condition that any smoker hates to taste is not being able to taste anything at all. Like every cell in the mouth gets numb and opening mouth, chewing, or swallowing becomes an uphill climb. Scientifically called xerostomia, the condition similar to stuffing cotton in the mouth can also arise to smokers after consuming marijuana, or rather CBD to be a little precise. While going through this desert in mouth situation, all you crave for is a drizzle from the salivary glands to help it feel a little mushy inside. For every munchies you chew and try to swallow, each bite can be felt inducing pressure against the walls of esophagus as it rolls down abrasively to the stomach.
Why does it occur?
Earlier, it was discerned that the dryness is simply a result of hot smoke inhaled through the mouth. But this could not justify the situations in which it is ingested, eaten or consumed NOT as smoke alone.
The reason is complex than what it was assumed to be. The CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors are present at multiple locations in our body including the SMG, Submandibular Gland, responsible for producing 70% of saliva content in the mouth. It also produces the salivary amylase responsible for disintegrating starches in the mouth stopping which can inhibit the breaking down and softening of food hence swallowing through the throat.
The intake of some cannabinoid will out
rage every cannabinoid receptor including the ones present in mouth or SMG which are responsible for producing saliva. Binding to this spot motivates the hampering of saliva secretion giving a cottonmouth.
How to get rid of this?
It is pretty obvious that dryness can only be treated with something moist. Hydration is the key to wriggle out of this situation. Particularly for cannabis induced dry, an oral demulcent, a substance that covers the mucus membrane with a moist layer like throat lozenge can help alleviate it. Other easy resort can include sipping water to feel more hydrated and moving tongue and mouth constantly. But, make sure you don’t end up looking epileptic at face while you do that. Chewing a sugarless gum and gulping a whole cup of chocolate milk helps fight off the dry-mouth in the most scrumptious way. Crushed ice with a little lemon kept in mouth can be a perfect tangy remedy as well.
What to avoid?
Firstly, you cannot put cotton in your mouth to beat the cottonmouth. Drinks high in tannins, like commercial teas, wines and juices can literally act as cotton in your mouth. Tobacco is another drying agent. The alcoholic beer which might seem an alluringly wet option to heal the dryness can actually make the situation worse. All these tend to leave a dry mouth too due to dehydration of body.
Optimistically, looking at this other way round, cannabis can actually surpass as a remedy to over salivation or excess mucus production by acting as an antidote to these symptoms. This could seemingly open up a lot of new ways to usefulness of cannabis.
