What Does Cottonmouth Mean?
One of the various side effects of smoking cannabis is having a cotton mouth. As the name would suggest, when a person experiences cotton mouth, the mouth and lips become insanely dry, sticky, and uncomfortable. This can happen as the active compounds in the marijuana herb directly engage with the receptors in the mouth that control the production of saliva.
It does not only feel like having a very dry mouth from smoking pot, but it also involves having small bits of mucus and spit, lining mainly the roof of your mouth, feeling like cotton when rubbing the tongue against it.
Maximum Yield Explains Cottonmouth
After smoking marijuana, the mouth can become exceedingly dry; spit becomes sparse and thick, and the roof of the mouth becomes seemingly impossible to reach with the tongue.
Every time cannabis is ingested, the cannabinoid receptors in the submandibular glands (SMGs) latch on to the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which in turn causes the SMGs to stop receiving the messages from the parasympathetic nervous system that makes them produce saliva. This is what leads to a cotton mouth.
Fortunately, there are a few simple tricks to get rid of a cotton mouth that basically requires one to stay hydrated. Sometimes, chewing sugarless gum and drinking water can do the trick and lessen the effect of a cotton mouth. Also, sucking on a lemon or an orange slice is a natural way to stimulate saliva production. However, it doesn’t always work on everybody as everyone’s body is different.
Drinking alcohol or anything with sugar in it is highly discouraged as these types of drinks can dehydrate the body and make the effects of cotton mouth worse.
