The cannabis component CBD can alleviate acute dental pain and may provide an equally effective, far safer alternative to opioids, researchers at Rutgers University and the University of Texas say in newly published research. While over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen are the go-to choices for emergency dental pain relief, the study says some patients can’t take those medications. In contrast, others don’t experience sufficient comfort from them.
Measuring subjects’ reported pain on a numerical scale over time, both CBD groups experienced significant pain reduction compared to both their baseline and the placebo group. Both groups experienced maximum reduction in pain at about 180 minutes after administration. However, researchers found that the higher dose of CBD led to a faster decline in significant pain—15 minutes as opposed to 30 minutes with the lower amount. In terms of the degree of relief, the study found maximum median pain relief was 73 percent at the 180-minute mark.
