Cannabis may help in the treatment of periodontitis, reveals study from UFU

A study from the Antimicrobial Assays Laboratory at the Federal University of Uberlândia (Lea/UFU) revealed that cannabidiol (CBD), a bioactive compound extracted from the Cannabis sativa plant, has therapeutic potential for the treatment of periodontitis.

The chronic inflammatory disease affects the supporting tissues of the teeth, potentially leading to their loss. The research showed that the substance can combat the bacteria responsible for the condition, becoming a less aggressive alternative compared to conventional treatments.

Dr. Cynthia De Carlo,

a prescriber of medicinal cannabis, international speaker, and columnist for Sechat, believes that “the results are favorable and very promising”.

“The research is very welcome and only tends to enhance Brazilian literature, which makes me very proud,” she praises.

Study used a biological model to evaluate safety

Researchers analyzed the safety of CBD use through tests on the species Caenorhabditis elegans, a worm widely used in toxicological studies. The results were published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology in January 2025, consolidating the scientific relevance of the study in the field of applied microbiology.

According to Anna Lívia Oliveira Santos, the research's creator, the academic and social impact of the study is significant. “It opens doors for new research on the use of natural products in combating resistant bacteria, a growing problem in medicine. Additionally, it offers a less aggressive therapeutic option and helps reduce prejudice regarding medicinal Cannabis, especially in Brazil,” Santos states.

Dr. Cynthia explained to Sechat that “in current dental clinical practice, for cases of periodontal inflammation, we use systemic treatment with full-spectrum oils and also specific topical products, such as toothpaste, mouthwashes, and mouth sprays containing cannabinoids in the composition.” 

Regarding these dental cannabis products, Cynthia says that there are already “articles proving their effectiveness, due to the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties of cannabinoids and terpenes present in the cannabis plant”.

Research development and methodology

The research began in 2021 as a Scientific Initiation (IC) project by Santos, then a Biomedicine undergraduate and currently a master's student in Applied Immunology and Parasitology at UFU. The interest in the topic arose during the Natural Products course, which covered medicinal Cannabis. Santos contacted Professor Carlos Henrique Gomes Martins from the Biomedical Sciences Institute to develop the study.

The project included a literature review on bacterial infectious diseases focusing on those resistant to antibiotics. The investigation of CBD's antibacterial activity in periodontitis began in late 2022, with the experimental part completed in early 2024.

The team was guided by Martins and included doctoral students Mariana Brentini Santiago and Nagela Bernadelli Sousa Silva, as well as IC student Sara Lemes de Souza. The research also had the collaboration of Professor Joaquim Maurício Duarte Almeida from the Federal University of São João del-Rei (UFSJ), who provided the CBD used in the experiments.

“We worked with various microbiological techniques to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of the results. Despite the experimental challenges, we were able to advance with the support of the team and the advisor,” Santos concludes.

According to Cynthia, this research “will definitely have a great impact on Dentistry”. In her view, “research and studies show interest in this therapy and provide confirmation of other studies already conducted or prove significant novelties”.

The study reinforces the therapeutic potential of medicinal Cannabis and may contribute to the development of new strategies in combating periodontal diseases, expanding the therapeutic options available in the market.