What does the research say?
CBD applied over the jaw muscle: In a study with 60 young adults with chewing muscle pain, half of the participants rubbed an ointment containing a CBD-rich cannabis extract onto the cheek, over the jaw muscle (masseter), twice a day for 14 days, and the other half used an ointment that looked the same but had no active ingredient (placebo). The pain score fell from 5.6 to 1.7 out of 10 with the CBD ointment and from 5.1 to 4.6 with the placebo ointment, and the difference was clear; the electrical activity of the muscle measured at rest also fell slightly in the CBD group. In a second study with 66 people who grind their teeth in their sleep and have jaw muscle pain, groups assigned at random applied a gel with 5% or 10% CBD, or a gel without CBD, from inside the mouth over the jaw muscle every night for 30 days. Pain fell from 6 to 2 with the 10% gel and from 6 to 3.5 with the 5% gel, while it barely changed with the placebo gel (from 6 to 5.5). The difference between the two CBD gels was not clear.
These two positive studies need to be read carefully. Both come from the same university department in Poland, and their participants were mostly young people in their 20s. Groups were assigned by participants picking a number from a container or picking a container. In the gel study, the CBD gels were slightly bitter and a little cloudy, while the gel without CBD was almost tasteless and clear; so participants may have noticed which group they were in. The first study was registered only after it had ended, and the registration lists 20 people; the plan in the second study's registration (30 people, different dates, an orally dissolving film in the title) does not match the published study, and only the 60 people who completed the study were included in the analysis. A 2025 systematic review of these two studies by authors from other universities saw a short-term reduction in pain but wrote that no strong recommendation could be made. A 2026 review also points out that all of the direct clinical evidence on teeth grinding during sleep comes from a single research group. There is no study in which another research group has repeated these results (October 2026).
CBD taken by mouth: In the US, 62 people with chewing muscle pain were assigned to groups at random, so that two out of every three people got CBD and one got placebo, and for 3 months they used, under the tongue every day, an oil containing 20 mg of CBD or a hemp seed oil without CBD. In the 54 people included in the analysis, pain at the end of the first month and over the next two months was almost the same in both groups. Jaw function (difficulty with everyday movements such as chewing, yawning and talking) improved a little in both groups, but there was no difference between the groups. The authors note that the dose used may have been low; the study's product and funding were provided by the company that makes the CBD oil.
Teeth grinding: The only study that measured teeth grinding with a device is the intraoral CBD gel study. Teeth-grinding frequency, measured with a portable device that records jaw muscle contractions during sleep, went down from the start in people using the CBD gel, but on day 30 there was no clear difference between the CBD and placebo groups. A separate publication from the same study reported that sleep quality scores and the impact of migraine on daily life improved more with the CBD gel than with placebo; however, the sleep measure was not in the study's pre-registered plan, the CBD groups had worse sleep scores at the start, and the two publications describe the randomization method and the dose differently. There is no cannabinoid study that measured teeth grinding during sleep in a sleep laboratory (polysomnography).
THC-containing products: In Brazil, 20 people with long-lasting pain in the jaw muscles were first given placebo for 90 days, followed by 90 days of a cannabis oil taken under the tongue that contained equal amounts of THC and CBD; the dose was raised to 10 mg a day over 5 weeks. The pain score out of 10 was 7.4 at the start, 6.5 at the end of the placebo period and 3.5 at the end of the cannabis oil period; mouth opening also increased by about 4 mm. However, there was no randomization in this study, and everyone got placebo first and then the active product, in the same order; so, as the authors also note, bias from the order cannot be ruled out, and it is not known how much of the improvement was due to the product. The publication also gives conflicting accounts of whether participants and assessors knew which product they were getting, and the study was not registered in advance. For these reasons, the evidence for THC-containing products is very weak.
Cannabis use and teeth grinding: In a study that looked at the records of 14,657 dental patients aged 12–25 in the US, those who said they had ever used cannabis reported clenching or grinding their teeth more often (20.5% vs 9.1%; about 1.3 times as often when age, sex, tobacco and alcohol were taken into account). In current users, this link was not clear. A study of this kind does not show cause and effect; but it also does not support the idea that cannabis helps with teeth grinding. Because it is a single cross-sectional study, the evidence on this question is very weak.
Ongoing studies and studies with unknown results: In Poland, a study comparing a drink containing CBD and CBN (another cannabis compound) with placebo in 42 people with long-lasting muscle-related pain in the jaw and head area was still underway in October 2026 (expected to end in December 2026). Two studies, one comparing CBD oil with a pain reliever (nimesulide) in jaw joint pain and one testing a CBD night guard, have been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, but their status is unknown and their results have not been published.
Strength of evidence: ●○○○ Very weak evidence. Finding: Mixed results. What does this mean?
Ongoing research on this topic
Trials testing CBD for this topic on ClinicalTrials.gov: 2 under way. A trial being under way does not show that CBD works.
- NCT05961501: Phase 2/3, enrolling by invitation, target 42 participants
- NCT06405646: Observational study, enrolling by invitation, target 102 participants
Possible side effects and drug interactions
The side effects reported in the studies were few and mild. In the under-the-tongue CBD oil study, mild complaints occurred in about one in ten people using CBD (4 of 38: headache, nausea or anxiety) and in one in five people using the oil without CBD (4 of 19: nausea or dizziness). No side effects were reported in the studies of the ointment applied over the jaw muscle and the intraoral gel; in the gel study, 6 of 66 people did not complete the study. These studies were short (2 weeks to 3 months) and involved few people; they are not enough to show side effects that may appear rarely or with long-term use.
The 20-person study with an oil containing THC and CBD states that no side effects were reported, even when participants were asked directly; because the study was very small, this does not mean that THC-containing products have no side effects. The studies on this page did not look at drug interactions; people taking medicines that could interact with CBD were not included in the intraoral gel study. Details on drug interactions are in the site's drug interactions section.
To check interactions with the medicines you take: CBD drug interaction checker.
How was CBD used in studies?
Products applied over the jaw muscle: In the ointment study, an ointment made from a CBD-rich cannabis extract and containing about 1.46% CBD was rubbed onto the cheek over the jaw muscle twice a day for 14 days (study dose; not a personal recommendation). In the gel study, a 5% or 10% gel made from pure CBD was applied from inside the mouth over the jaw muscles on both sides every night before bed for 30 days; according to the main publication, this means 20 or 40 mg of CBD a day (study dose; not a personal recommendation; the second publication from the same trial says 25 or 50 mg). Both products were special mixtures prepared by the researchers; they are not the same as the creams and gels on the market.
Products taken by mouth: In the CBD oil study, 1 mL (20 mg of CBD) was held under the tongue for one minute and then swallowed, once a day for 3 months (study dose; not a personal recommendation); the authors note that this dose may have been low. In the study of the oil containing THC and CBD, the dose started at 2 mg a day and was raised by 2 mg each week to reach 10 mg a day in week 5, split into two doses (study dose; not a personal recommendation). It is not known what amount might work.
Study details (for health professionals)
There are three small RCTs in chewing muscle pain, all three with CBD. With a product applied to the skin (CBD-rich cannabis extract in a cholesterol ointment, about 1.46% CBD; 60 people, 14 days), pain fell from 5.6 to 1.67 with CBD and from 5.1 to 4.6 with placebo (between groups p < 0.001); resting sEMG activity of the masseter muscle fell by 11–12.6% with CBD and by 0.2–3.3% with placebo. With pure CBD gel applied from inside the mouth to the masseter muscle (5% and 10%; 66 randomized, 60 analyzed, 30 days), median pain fell from 6 to 3.5 and to 2, and to 5.5 with placebo (ANOVA p < 0.001; difference between the two gels not significant); sEMG was also lower than with placebo; there was no between-group difference in the sleep bruxism index (Bruxoff) (ANOVA p = 0.23). These two positive RCTs come from the same university department; participants' mean age was 23–24; groups were assigned by choosing a number or a container; the first was registered retrospectively (20 people in the registration), the second's registration (30 people, July 2023, orally dissolving film) does not match the publication, and the analysis included only completers; in the gel study, the CBD gels were slightly bitter and a little opaque, while the placebo gel was almost tasteless and clear (blinding may have been compromised). The sleep quality and migraine results in the same trial's sleep publication rest on measures that are not in the registration, and they conflict with the main publication on the randomization method and dose; the sleep publication's own sample size calculation calls for 26 people per group (20 in the study), and there is no correction for multiple comparisons. With under-the-tongue CBD oil (20 mg/day, 3 months; 62 registered, 54 analyzed, 2:1 randomization; prospectively registered; product and funding from the manufacturer), pain on the primary outcome (month 1) and at months 2–3 was no different from a hemp seed oil placebo; jaw function improved in both groups. The single study with a THC-containing product is not randomized: THC:CBD 1:1 under-the-tongue oil (up to 10 mg a day), in a fixed order with 90 days of placebo first, then 90 days of the active product (20 people; no washout and no registration); pain from 6.5 to 3.5 (p < 0.001). In a cross-sectional study, self-reported teeth grinding was more common among people who had ever used cannabis (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.31; 95% CI 1.09–1.58). An independent systematic review (Galant 2025, RoB 2) judged the two topical CBD studies to have a low risk of bias, but it did not do a meta-analysis and gave no strong recommendation; a 2026 narrative review (Metello Neves 2026, PMID 42878934) writes that all of the direct clinical evidence in sleep bruxism comes from a single research group and that no study measured chewing muscle activity during sleep with polysomnography. October 2026 search (PubMed, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials.gov, Europe PMC): on this topic, 3 randomized controlled studies with cannabinoids (all with CBD; 188 randomized, 174 analyzed), 1 non-randomized controlled study with a product containing THC and CBD (20 people), 1 systematic review and 1 observational study looking at the link between cannabis use and teeth grinding were found; all are in the table below. Cochrane has no review on cannabinoids for this topic; there is no study with registered but unpublished results; the status of 2 registrations is unknown (no results), and 1 study is ongoing. Not included in the table: a 20-person pilot comparing two CBD gels without placebo and without measuring pain, two case reports, reviews that re-summarize the same two studies, and a palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) study, which is not a cannabis product.
Evidence assessment: Very weak; conflicting (3 small RCTs with CBD, 188 randomized people in total: 2 positive studies from the same research group with an ointment applied to the jaw and an intraoral gel, 1 negative study with under-the-tongue CBD oil; no between-group difference in the teeth-grinding measurement)
CBD alone
Two small RCTs with products applied over the jaw muscle were positive: an ointment with CBD-rich cannabis extract (about 1.46% CBD, 14 days, 60 people) lowered pain from 5.6 to 1.7 out of 10 (from 5.1 to 4.6 with placebo; p < 0.001); 5% and 10% pure CBD gel applied inside the mouth (30 days, 66 randomized, 60 analyzed) lowered pain more than placebo (median from 6 to 3.5 and to 2; to 5.5 with placebo). Both studies came from the same university department, with young participants and with groups assigned by choosing numbers; the first was registered after it ended, and the second's registration does not match the publication; in the gel study, the CBD gels differed from the placebo gel in taste and appearance (blinding may have been compromised). In the same gel study, there was no between-group difference in how often teeth were ground during sleep (p = 0.23). CBD oil taken by mouth (under the tongue) at 20 mg a day (THC content not reported) was no different from a hemp seed oil placebo in pain and jaw function over 3 months (54 people). The evidence is very weak; results conflict depending on the route of use.
Products containing THC
There is a single study with THC-containing products: in 20 people with chronic pain in the jaw muscles, an under-the-tongue oil containing THC and CBD 1:1 (up to 10 mg a day, 90 days) improved pain (from 6.5 to 3.5 out of 10) and mouth opening (p < 0.001) compared with a 90-day placebo period given first. No randomization, the same order for everyone (placebo first), no washout period and no advance registration; so the improvement cannot be confidently attributed to the product. In an observational study (14,657 young dental patients), people who had ever used cannabis reported teeth grinding more often (adjusted ratio 1.31; 95% CI 1.09–1.58); in current users the link was not significant. The evidence is very weak.
Evidence: Very weak (a single non-randomized, fixed-order 20-person study with an under-the-tongue oil containing THC and CBD; plus a cross-sectional study in which teeth grinding was reported more often among cannabis users)
Dose range in studies
Pure CBD gel applied inside the mouth, 5% or 10% (20 or 40 mg a day; 25 or 50 mg according to the second publication), 30 days; cannabis extract ointment applied on the cheek (about 1.46% CBD) twice a day, 14 days; under-the-tongue CBD oil 20 mg/day, 3 months; THC-containing: THC:CBD 1:1 under-the-tongue oil up to 10 mg a day, 90 days
Starting dose and titration
With the THC:CBD oil, the dose started at 2 mg a day and was raised by 2 mg a week to reach 10 mg a day in week 5 (Schinko 2026); the dose was not adjusted in the CBD studies; these are research protocols
These are doses researchers gave under medical supervision; they are not a recommended dose for you. "mg/kg/day" means milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day.
| Study | Participants | Product | Dose and titration | Duration | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reeve 2026 Single-center, placebo-controlled RCT (2:1 randomization, blocks of three); in the registration only participants were blinded, according to the publication assessors were also blinded; prospectively registered | 62 registered and randomized; 54 analyzed (35 CBD / 19 placebo) Myofascial pain in the chewing muscles (DC/TMD criteria; pain at least 30/100); median age 32–36, 80% women; current cannabis users were not included (US) | Sublingual CBD oil (20 mg/mL; a product of the manufacturing company, which also provided the funding; whether it was full-spectrum or isolate and its THC content are not given in the publication); placebo: hemp seed oil with no detectable CBD | 20 mg/day (1 mL held under the tongue for 60 seconds and swallowed) | 3 months | Primary outcome (jaw pain at month 1, VAS 0–100) not different between groups: median 43 vs 44 (p > 0.99); no difference at months 2 and 3 either (p = 0.62 and 0.83), and no difference in change from baseline (p = 0.56–0.98). Jaw function (JFLS-8) improved over time in both groups (p = 0.002 in each), with no difference between groups. People with at least one follow-up data point were analyzed (of 62 people, 5 did not return for follow-up and 3 were excluded because of a diagnostic error); follow-up data with adherence below 80% were excluded. The dose was low (the authors also note this). The product and funding were provided by the CBD oil manufacturer Side effects: Mild side effects in 4/38 with CBD (10.5%; 2 headache, 1 nausea, 1 anxiety), 4/19 with placebo (21%; 2 nausea, 2 dizziness); only mild side effects were reported | PMID 42016900, doi:10.1159/000551040, NCT04298554, 2020, start August 2020, end May 2022, the registration lists 59 people and participant-only blinding, and its title also mentions joint pain, the registered primary measure was change in pain from baseline at weeks 3, 7 and 11, the published primary outcome was pain at month 1, no difference under either definition, no results in the registration), PMC13095194, the same study is also in the site's Chronic Pain table |
| Walczyńska-Dragon 2024 Described as a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT, 3 groups (10% CBD / 5% CBD / placebo); the CBD gels were slightly bitter and a little opaque, the placebo gel almost tasteless and clear (blinding may have been compromised) | 66 randomized; 60 completed and were analyzed (20 in each group) Sleep bruxism (clenching/grinding teeth during sleep) and jaw joint disorder originating in the chewing muscles (RDC/TMD); young adults, mean age 24, 60% women; people using cannabis products and people using pain relievers or muscle relaxants were not included (Poland) | CBD gel applied from inside the mouth to the chewing muscle (masseter) (a hydrogel prepared by the researchers with 100% CBD isolate); placebo: the same gel without CBD | 40 mg/day with the 10% gel, 20 mg/day with the 5% gel (every night before bed, one measure on each side); the second publication from the same trial says 50 and 25 mg | 30 days | On day 30, pain (VAS 0–10, median) fell from 6 to 2 with the 10% gel and from 6 to 3.5 with the 5% gel, and from 6 to 5.5 with placebo; between-group difference significant (ANOVA p < 0.001; versus placebo, 10% gel p < 0.0001, 5% gel p = 0.0004–0.002), not significant between the two gels. Masseter muscle sEMG activity was also lower than placebo with both gels. The sleep bruxism index (Bruxoff, events per hour) fell from the start in the CBD groups, but on day 30 there was no difference between groups (ANOVA p = 0.23; Kruskal–Wallis p = 0.23). Groups were assigned by choosing numbers from opaque containers, and only the 60 people who completed the study were analyzed; from the same university department as Nitecka-Buchta 2019; the authors reported no conflicts of interest Side effects: No side effects reported; 6 of 66 people did not complete the study (reasons not given in detail) | PMID 38592260, doi:10.3390/jcm13051417, NCT05562635, a July 2023 start and an 'orally dissolving film' title, the paper gives January–May 2023 and 66 people), PMID 40732351, a row in the site's Insomnia table, it describes the randomization method and dose differently from the main publication), PMID 41517391, which cites the same registration number, is a separate pilot (20 students, two CBD gels, no placebo, pain not measured), PMC10932451, the same study is also in the site's CBD Cream (Topical) table |
| Nitecka-Buchta 2019 Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT (2 groups) | 60 (30 / 30) Myofascial pain in the chewing muscles (RDC/TMD Ia and Ib); young adults, mean age 23, 33 of 60 were women (Poland) | 20% cannabis extract oil in a cholesterol ointment (about 1.46% CBD; THC 0 according to the manufacturer's certificate; the extract also contains small amounts of CBG and CBC), applied on the cheek over the masseter muscle; placebo ointment identical in appearance | Twice a day | 14 days | The primary measure in the registration was resting sEMG activity of the masseter muscle: over 14 days, it fell by 11% on the right and 12.6% on the left with CBD, and by 0.2% and 3.3% with placebo. Pain (VAS 0–10) fell from 5.6 to 1.7 (70.2%) with CBD and from 5.1 to 4.6 (9.8%; within-group p = 0.011) with placebo; between-group difference on day 14 significant (p < 0.001). Groups were assigned by drawing an even or odd number from a container; the study was registered after it ended, and the registration lists 20 participants. From the same university department as Walczyńska-Dragon 2024; the authors reported no conflicts of interest Side effects: No side effects recorded | PMID 31698733, doi:10.3390/jcm8111886, NCT03994640, 20 participants in the registration), PMC6912397, the same study is also in the site's CBD Cream (Topical) table |
| Schinko 2026 Non-randomized, fixed-sequence crossover study (everyone got 90 days of placebo first, followed by 90 days of the active product; no washout period); the publication describes the blinding both as 'double-blind' and as 'patient-only blind'; no registration number | 20 Chronic myofascial pain in the chewing muscles (DC/TMD); aged 29–61 (mean 44.5), 12 women, 8 men; people who used substances were not included (Brazil) | Sublingual cannabis extract, THC:CBD 1:1 (manufacturer and analysis not given in the publication); placebo identical in appearance, taste and packaging | Target 10 mg a day, split into two doses (2 × 5 mg, 15 drops); the publication does not clearly say whether this is the total of THC and CBD Started at 2 mg a day and raised by 2 mg a week to 10 mg a day in week 5 | 2 × 90 days | Pain (VAS 0–10) was 7.35 at the start, 6.50 at the end of the placebo period and 3.50 at the end of the active product period (the active period differed both from the start and from the placebo period, p < 0.001); mouth opening 45.9 → 46.8 → 49.9 mm; forward and sideways jaw movements also increased in the active period. Number of people reporting functional pain 20 → 13 (after placebo) → 2 (after the active period; no statistical test done). Because the order was the same for everyone, as the authors also note, order and carryover effects cannot be ruled out; the authors write that larger, randomized studies are needed. Funded by public research funds (CAPES, CNPq); the authors reported no conflicts of interest Side effects: No side effects reported (including when asked directly) | PMID 41740529, doi:10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.100885, PMC12973522, ethics committee approval CAAE 71674023.8.0000.5374, no study registration stated in the publication |
| Galant 2025 (systematic review) Systematic review of RCTs (RoB 2; no meta-analysis because the criteria for pooled analysis were not met; PROSPERO-registered) | 9 placebo-controlled RCTs, 390 people; 2 with CBD Jaw joint disorders, chewing muscle pain and sleep bruxism | Medicines applied through the skin or the lining of the mouth; CBD studies: cannabis extract ointment (about 1.46% CBD) and CBD isolate gel (5% and 10%) | In both CBD studies, pain fell more than with placebo over 14–30 days, and both studies were judged to have a low risk of bias; the largest percentage reduction was with the 1.46% CBD ointment. But because each medicine was tested in only one or two studies and with different methods, no pooled analysis was done; the authors write that no strong clinical recommendation can be made; no medicine produced a clear improvement in mouth opening compared with placebo. The two CBD studies come from the same university department; the review authors are independent of it, but the review does not discuss that the first study was registered retrospectively or that groups were assigned by choosing numbers in both studies; Reeve 2026, done with CBD taken by mouth, is outside the review's scope (application through the skin and mucosa only). No external funding; the authors reported no conflicts of interest Side effects: No side effects were reported in the CBD studies | PMID 41463118, doi:10.3390/biomedicines13123110, PROSPERO CRD42025632021, PMC12731073, the same review is also in the site's CBD Cream (Topical) table | ||
| Le 2022 Cross-sectional study (dental clinic electronic records 2015–2021; prevalence ratios adjusted for age, sex, tobacco and alcohol) | 14,657 (699 reported ever using cannabis; 360 current users) Dental patients aged 12–25 (US, general clinics of the New York University College of Dentistry) | Cannabis use (patient self-report; product, THC amount and frequency of use not recorded) | A teeth clenching or grinding habit (asked of patients) was more common among those who reported ever using cannabis: 20.5% vs 9.1%; adjusted prevalence ratio 1.31 (95% CI 1.09–1.58). In current users, the link was not significant (1.07; 0.83–1.39). No difference in signs of tooth wear (0.92; 0.54–1.76). Teeth grinding was one of ten oral health outcomes examined in the study; no correction for multiple comparisons was reported in the publication. Cross-sectional and based on self-report: it does not show cause and effect; according to the authors, cannabis use may have been underreported. The authors reported no conflicts of interest | PMID 36429978, doi:10.3390/ijerph192215261, PMC9691037, supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
Reported side effects
- Under-the-tongue CBD oil 20 mg/day: mild side effects 4/38 (headache 2, nausea 1, anxiety 1); with placebo 4/19 (nausea 2, dizziness 2) (Reeve 2026)
- CBD applied to the skin and inside the mouth: no side effects reported (Nitecka-Buchta 2019; Walczyńska-Dragon 2024; in the gel study, 6 of 66 people did not complete it)
- THC:CBD 1:1 under-the-tongue oil up to 10 mg a day: no side effects reported in 20 people (Schinko 2026); the sample is too small to draw conclusions about safety
Who should be careful
- Cannabis use and teeth grinding: among 14,657 dental patients aged 12–25, teeth clenching or grinding was reported more often by those who said they had ever used cannabis (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.31; Le 2022). Because it is a single cross-sectional study, it does not show cause and effect, and the evidence is very weak; there is no controlled evidence that THC-containing cannabis helps with teeth grinding
- The ointments and gels that gave positive results were special mixtures prepared by the researchers; the cannabis extract used in the ointment also contained small amounts of CBG and CBC alongside CBD, and the statement that it had zero THC relied only on the manufacturer's certificate (Nitecka-Buchta 2019). The contents of products on the market may differ
- Improvement was also seen in the placebo groups of the jaw pain studies (in the under-the-tongue oil study, jaw function improved in both groups; in the ointment study, pain also fell a little in the placebo group). So studies without a comparison group and personal experiences can be misleading (Reeve 2026; Nitecka-Buchta 2019)
Drug interactions
- The studies on this page did not assess drug interactions; people taking medicines that interact with CBD, pain relievers or muscle relaxants were not included in the intraoral gel study (Walczyńska-Dragon 2024). Details are in the site's drug interactions section
Abbreviations: RCT, randomized controlled trial (a study in which participants are assigned to groups by chance); placebo, an inactive substance; SMD, OR and RR, effect measures used in analyses that pool studies; CYP, liver enzymes that break down medicines.
If you are considering CBD
- Talk with a dentist about the cause of your jaw pain or teeth grinding; a night guard, physical therapy, education and approaches aimed at changing habits are among the first-line options.
- There is no evidence that CBD can replace these treatments; if you are thinking of trying it, you can talk about it with your doctor or dentist.
- Keep in mind that the products that gave positive results in studies were specially prepared ointments and gels applied to the jaw, and that no difference was seen with low-dose CBD oil taken by mouth. It is not known whether this difference comes from how the product was used or from the studies' different methods and participants.
- Check the product label and the independent lab certificate of analysis (COA); find out how much CBD it contains and whether it contains THC.
- If you take medicines regularly, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about drug interactions.
Choose your age group, medicines and situation to prepare a short summary you can take to your doctor. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Bottom line
Research on CBD for jaw joint pain and teeth grinding is at an early stage: two small studies with CBD products applied to the jaw reported promising results, but both come from the same research group and have shortcomings in their methods; in the study with CBD oil taken by mouth, no difference was seen. An effect of CBD on teeth grinding itself has not been shown. Until larger, independent studies report results, it is best to keep expectations cautious and to make treatment decisions together with your dentist.
Frequently asked questions
Does CBD oil work for TMJ pain?
It is not clear yet. In the only controlled study that tested CBD oil taken by mouth (under the tongue), there was no difference in jaw pain between 35 people who used 20 mg of CBD a day for 3 months and 19 people who used an oil without CBD. The positive results came not from oil taken by mouth but from specially prepared ointments and gels applied over the jaw muscle; these are also just two small studies from the same research group. The evidence is very weak.
Does CBD help with teeth grinding (bruxism)?
There is no evidence showing this. In the only study that measured teeth grinding with a device during sleep, CBD gel applied from inside the mouth to the jaw muscle reduced pain over 30 days, but there was no clear difference between CBD and placebo in how often teeth grinding happened. There is no cannabinoid study that measured teeth grinding during sleep in a sleep laboratory.
CBD cream or gel, or CBD oil taken by mouth?
The results differ for the two routes. In two studies with CBD ointments and gels applied over the jaw muscle (on the cheek or from inside the mouth), pain fell more than with placebo within 2–4 weeks; in the study with under-the-tongue CBD oil, no difference was seen. However, these studies were done in different countries, over different lengths of time and with different doses; there is no study comparing the two directly. Results for CBD applied to the skin in other kinds of pain are on the site's CBD Cream (Topical) page.
Have THC-containing cannabis products been tested for jaw pain?
Only in one study. In Brazil, 20 people were first given placebo for 90 days, followed by 90 days of an under-the-tongue oil containing THC and CBD; pain and mouth opening clearly improved during the cannabis oil period. But no randomization was used, and everyone took the products in the same order; so it is not known how much of the improvement was due to the product. The evidence for THC-containing products is very weak.
Does using cannabis increase teeth grinding?
It is not known for sure. In the records of more than 14 thousand young dental patients in the US, those who said they had ever used cannabis reported clenching or grinding their teeth about 1.3 times as often; in current users this difference was not clear. Record studies like this do not show cause and effect; tobacco and alcohol were taken into account, but other factors may also play a role. The evidence is very weak.
How much CBD was used in the studies?
In the intraoral gel study, 20 or 40 mg of CBD a day was used, from a 5% or 10% gel every night; in the ointment study, an ointment with about 1.46% CBD twice a day; and in the under-the-tongue oil study, 20 mg of CBD a day. These are study doses, not personal recommendations; it is not known what amount might work.
References
Show 6 references
- Reeve 2026. Single-center, placebo-controlled RCT (2:1 randomization, blocks of three); in the registration only participants were blinded, according to the publication assessors were also blinded; prospectively registered. PMID 42016900, doi:10.1159/000551040, NCT04298554, 2020, start August 2020, end May 2022, the registration lists 59 people and participant-only blinding, and its title also mentions joint pain, the registered primary measure was change in pain from baseline at weeks 3, 7 and 11, the published primary outcome was pain at month 1, no difference under either definition, no results in the registration), PMC13095194, the same study is also in the site's Chronic Pain table
- Walczyńska-Dragon 2024. Described as a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT, 3 groups (10% CBD / 5% CBD / placebo); the CBD gels were slightly bitter and a little opaque, the placebo gel almost tasteless and clear (blinding may have been compromised). PMID 38592260, doi:10.3390/jcm13051417, NCT05562635, a July 2023 start and an 'orally dissolving film' title, the paper gives January–May 2023 and 66 people), PMID 40732351, a row in the site's Insomnia table, it describes the randomization method and dose differently from the main publication), PMID 41517391, which cites the same registration number, is a separate pilot (20 students, two CBD gels, no placebo, pain not measured), PMC10932451, the same study is also in the site's CBD Cream (Topical) table
- Nitecka-Buchta 2019. Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT (2 groups). PMID 31698733, doi:10.3390/jcm8111886, NCT03994640, 20 participants in the registration), PMC6912397, the same study is also in the site's CBD Cream (Topical) table
- Schinko 2026. Non-randomized, fixed-sequence crossover study (everyone got 90 days of placebo first, followed by 90 days of the active product; no washout period); the publication describes the blinding both as 'double-blind' and as 'patient-only blind'; no registration number. PMID 41740529, doi:10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.100885, PMC12973522, ethics committee approval CAAE 71674023.8.0000.5374, no study registration stated in the publication
- Galant 2025 (systematic review). Systematic review of RCTs (RoB 2; no meta-analysis because the criteria for pooled analysis were not met; PROSPERO-registered). PMID 41463118, doi:10.3390/biomedicines13123110, PROSPERO CRD42025632021, PMC12731073, the same review is also in the site's CBD Cream (Topical) table
- Le 2022. Cross-sectional study (dental clinic electronic records 2015–2021; prevalence ratios adjusted for age, sex, tobacco and alcohol). PMID 36429978, doi:10.3390/ijerph192215261, PMC9691037, supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Points that could not be verified from the full text
- The under-the-tongue CBD oil study (Reeve 2026) is not fully consistent within itself or with its registration: in the abstract and the table, the range of the middle half (interquartile range) for the CBD group's age is 30–51, and in the results text 29–39; in the abstract, the CBD median pain at month 2 is 50, and in the table 55. The registration (NCT04298554) lists 59 people and participant-only blinding; the publication states that 62 people were enrolled and that assessors were also blinded. The publication says the analysis was by intention to treat and included all randomized people, but 8 of the 62 people are left out of the analysis. Whether the CBD oil used was full-spectrum or isolate, and its THC content, are not given in the publication.
- In the study with an oil containing THC and CBD (Schinko 2026), the methods section describes the study as 'double-blind' and the discussion section says 'only the patient was blinded'; whether the daily 10 mg is the total of THC and CBD, the product's manufacturer and its analysis are not clear in the publication; the publication gives no study registration number. The Brazilian registry (ReBEC) was not searched.
- The two publications of the intraoral gel trial do not match: in the main publication (Walczyńska-Dragon 2024), groups were assigned by participants choosing a container, and the daily dose was 20 and 40 mg; the sleep publication (Walczyńska-Dragon 2025) states computer-generated randomization with sealed envelopes and 25 and 50 mg. In the main publication, 6 of 66 people dropped out; the sleep publication mentions dropouts but gives no number, stating only that no one dropped out because of side effects. Which is correct could not be verified.
- In the ointment study (Nitecka-Buchta 2019), the statement that THC was zero rests only on the manufacturer's certificate; there is no independent analysis.
- In the study of cannabis use and teeth grinding (Le 2022), both pieces of information come from what patients reported; the type of cannabis, the amount of THC and how often it was used were not recorded. The full texts of the reviews on bruxism and substance use (Bertazzo-Silveira 2016, de Baat 2021) were not read; their abstracts contain no cannabis-specific result.
Research history
Here we record what changed on this page, when and why, with dates. The newest change is at the top.
Page published. This first assessment reviewed 6 studies.