Cannabis use on gingival bleeding and caries experience among students

• Published in: Brazilian journal of oral sciences 2024-07, Vol.23, p.e246121
• Main Authors: Chisini, Luiz Alexandre, Salvi, Luana Carla, Mello, André Luiz Rodrigues, Galdino dos Santos, Laylla, Noronha, Luiza Gioda, Oliveira, Kaila Andressa dos Santos, Dalmaso, João Luiz, Costa, Francine dos Santos, Demarco, Flávio Fernando
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; por
• Subjects: DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE
• ISSN: 1677-3225; 1677-3225
• DOI: 10.20396/bjos.v23i00.8676121

 Aim: The present study aimed to investigate if cannabis use can be associated with gingival bleeding and caries experience among Brazilian students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 2016 with first-semester university students in Pelotas. Data was collected via a self-administered questionnaire. Self-reported gingival bleeding and caries experienced were collected. Cannabis use was assessed using a modified version of the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). We define cannabis users as individuals who report using cannabis at least once a month. A Poisson regression model with robust variance was used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 2,058 (64.5% of eligible students) students were assessed. The prevalence of caries experience was 68.2% and gingival bleeding was 50.8%. The prevalence of cannabis use was 11.7%. After controlling (sex, skin color, age, family income, depressive symptoms, oral health self-perception tobacco use), individuals who use cannabis present a prevalence of gingival bleeding 2.51 (CI95%[1.42–4;53]) higher than individuals who did not use cannabis. The association was maintained even when the individuals who used tobacco were excluded from the sample (PR=2.24, CI95%[1.16 – 4.31]). Cannabis use did not show an association with the experience of dental caries in both crude (PR 0.91 CI95%[0.82 – 1.01]) and adjusted models (PR 0.93 CI 95%[0.83 – 1.05]). Conclusion: Cannabis use was associated with the presence of gingival bleeding among the students of a public university in the south of Brazil. However, the experience of dental caries did not present an association with cannabis use.