Topical cannabidiol (CBD) significantly reduced jaw pain and muscle activity in patients with temporomandibular disorders, according to a new meta-analysis published November 10 in the journal Scientific Reports.
The analysis, conducted by researchers affiliated with Alsalam University, Mansoura University and Alexandria University in Egypt, combined findings from two randomized clinical studies examining CBD’s effectiveness in treating muscle-related temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
The pooled results showed that pain scores favored CBD by an average of 2.89 points on a visual analog pain scale, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 2.21 to 3.58 points in favor of treatment. Researchers also identified significant reductions in electrical activity in the masseter muscles on both sides of the jaw.
Temporomandibular disorders affect the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, often causing persistent facial pain, tenderness, difficulty chewing and restricted jaw movement. Muscle-related forms of the condition can involve excessive tension or abnormal activity in the muscles responsible for chewing.
To evaluate CBD’s potential benefits, researchers conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov, reviewing studies published through September 2026. Their initial search identified 744 records, but only two randomized studies met the requirements for inclusion in the final analysis.
Both studies were assessed as having a low risk of bias using a standardized evaluation tool, strengthening confidence in how the individual trials were conducted.
Beyond the reductions in reported pain, researchers measured changes in jaw muscle activity using surface electromyography, a technique that detects electrical signals generated by muscles. The combined findings showed reductions in activity on both the right and left sides of the jaw following topical CBD treatment.
These results provide evidence that locally applied CBD may influence both the perception of pain and the muscular activity associated with temporomandibular disorders.
The analysis also contributes to an expanding body of research examining cannabinoids as potential treatments for jaw-related conditions. Unlike studies involving orally administered cannabis products, the research focused specifically on topical CBD applications intended to act near the affected muscles.
Although both included studies were considered methodologically sound, researchers rated the overall certainty of the evidence as low because of the limited number of trials, relatively small samples and short follow-up periods.
The researchers concluded that topical CBD significantly reduced pain intensity and masseter muscle activity in patients with muscle-related TMD, while emphasizing that larger randomized clinical trials are needed to establish its long-term effectiveness and determine whether it should become part of routine treatment.
