Rotten Breath, Broken Tooth, and Dry Mouth

Ozempic and Wegovy have been hailed as surprise medicine on the subject of weight reduction. However because the drug has change into extra broadly used, quite a few unintended side-effects have change into obvious—with the load loss drug affecting the looks of the whole lot from your butt to your feet.

“Ozempic face” is one other generally reported penalties of utilizing these fashionable weight reduction medicine. It is a sunken or hollowed out look the face can tackle in individuals taking weight reduction medicine. It could additionally enhance indicators of ageing—together with traces, wrinkles and sagging pores and skin.

This occurs as a result of semaglutide (the active ingredient in each Ozempic and Wegovy) isn’t localised to behave simply on the fats we wish to lose. As a substitute, it targets all of our physique’s fats—together with within the face.

But it surely isn’t simply the looks of your face that semaglutide impacts. These medicine might also have an effect on the mouth and enamel, too. And these side-effects may probably result in lasting harm.

Dry mouth

Semaglutide results the salivary glands within the mouth. It does this by lowering saliva manufacturing (hyposalivation), which may in flip lead to dry mouth (xerostomia). This implies there isn’t sufficient saliva to maintain the mouth moist.

It isn’t precisely clear why semaglutide has this impact on the salivary glands. However in animal research of the drug, it seems the drug makes saliva stickier. This implies there’s much less fluid to moisten the mouth, inflicting it to dry out.

GLP-1 receptor agonist medicine (reminiscent of semaglutide) also can reduce water intake by affecting areas in the brain accountable for thirst. Low fluid consumption additional reduces saliva production, and should even trigger the saliva to change into thick and frothy and the tongue to become sticky.

Unhealthy breath

One different generally reported undesirable impact by semaglutide customers is bad breath (halitosis). When there’s much less saliva flowing via the mouth, this encourages bacteria that contribute to dangerous breath and the formation of cavities to thrive. These bacterial species embody Streptococcus mutans and a few strains of Lactobacillus.

One other species that has been proven to thrive in situations the place saliva is decreased is Porphyromonas gingivalis. This micro organism is a big contributor to the manufacturing of unstable sulphur compounds, which cause the foul odours attribute of halitosis.

One other issue which may clarify why semaglutide causes dangerous breath is as a result of much less saliva being produced means the tongue isn’t cleaned. This is identical cause why your “morning breath” is so dangerous, as a result of we naturally produce much less saliva at night time. This enables micro organism to develop and produce odours. Case report images present some individuals taking semaglutide have a “furry”-like or coated look to their tongue. This means a construct up of micro organism that contribute to dangerous breath.

Tooth harm

One of many major side-effects of Ozempic is vomiting. Semaglutide slows how shortly the abdomen empties, delaying digestion which may result in bloating, nausea, and vomiting.

Repeated vomiting can damage the teeth. It’s because abdomen acid, composed primarily of hydrochloric acid, erodes the enamel of the enamel. The place vomiting happens over a protracted interval of months and years the more damage will occur. The back surface of the teeth (palatal floor) closest to the tongue usually tend to see harm–and this harm is probably not apparent to the sufferer.

Vomiting additionally reduces the amount of fluid within the physique. When mixed with decreased saliva manufacturing, this places the enamel at even larger danger of harm. It’s because saliva helps neutralise the acid that causes dental harm.

Saliva additionally contributes to the dental pellicle—a skinny, protecting layer that the saliva kinds on the floor of the enamel. It’s thickest on the tongue-facing surface of the underside row of enamel. In individuals who produce much less saliva, the dental pellicle contains fewer mucins—a sort of mucus which helps saliva stick to the teeth.

Lowering the danger of harm

When you’re taking semaglutide, there are a lot of issues you are able to do to maintain your mouth wholesome.

Ingesting water recurrently through the day might help to maintain the oral surfaces from drying out. This helps keep your pure oral microbiome, which may cut back the danger of an overgrowth of the micro organism that trigger dangerous breath and tooth harm.

Ingesting loads of water additionally allows the physique to produce the saliva needed to forestall dry mouth, ideally the beneficial day by day quantity of six to eight glasses. Chewing sugar-free gum can be a smart choice because it helps to encourage saliva manufacturing. Swallowing this saliva retains the valuable fluid within the body. Gums containing eucalyptus might assist to forestall halitosis, too.

There’s some proof that probiotics might assist to alleviate bad breath, at the least within the quick time period. Utilizing a probiotic supplements or consuming probiotic-rich meals (reminiscent of yoghurt or kefir) could also be a good suggestion.

Practising good basic oral hygiene, tooth brushing, lowering acidic meals and sugary drinks and utilizing a mouthwash all assist to guard your enamel as nicely.

Ladies are twice as likely to have side-effects when taking GLP-1 receptor agonists–together with gastrointestinal symptoms reminiscent of vomiting. This can be as a result of intercourse hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which may alter the gut’s sensitivity. To keep away from vomiting, attempt consuming smaller meals because the abdomen stays fuller for longer whereas taking semaglutide.

In case you are sick, don’t instantly brush your enamel as this can unfold the abdomen’s acid over the floor of the enamel and enhance the danger of harm. As a substitute, rinse your mouth out with water or mouthwash to scale back the power of the acid and wait at the least half-hour earlier than brushing.

It isn’t clear how lengthy these unwanted effects final, they’ll doubtless disappear when the medicine is stopped, however any harm to the enamel is everlasting. Gastrointestinal side-effects can final a couple of weeks however usually resolve on their own except the next dose is taken.

Adam Taylor, Professor of Anatomy, Lancaster University. This text is republished from The Conversation underneath a Artistic Commons license. Learn the original article.