Dental doctor reveals worrying ‘Ozempic mouth’ side-effect linked to weight loss drug
A medic has opened up an unnerving phenomenon known as 'Ozempic mouth', which she says users of the controversial weight loss drug are putting themselves at risk of developing.
For those unfamiliar with how the medication works, worry not - we'll fill you in on that first.
Now, the semaglutide injection, which has the primary purpose of treating type 2 diabetes, works by making the body feel fuller and produces more insulin, which has meant that people all over the globe have been taking it as a seemingly surefire way to lose weight.
However, as we say, the drug which appears to be taking over Hollywood doesn't come without its downsides with users reporting on phenomenons like 'Ozempic finger', 'Ozempic face', 'Ozempic scalp', 'Ozempic butt', 'Ozempic breast' even 'Ozempic vagina'.
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A dentist has now come forward to issue a warning on how the drug can significantly impact oral health.
Dr. Elizabeth Walton, co-founder and clinical director of Risas Kids Dental in Phoenix, told The Post: "Much of this revolves around the side effect of dry mouth.
"With dry mouth, you have increased likelihood of dental decay and periodontal disease."
But what's the actual science behind 'Ozempic mouth'?
Well, it's actually all to do with saliva.
Saliva is ace because it neutralises acid, washes away food particles and remineralises tooth enamel - the latter of which provides a lovely bit of natural protection against sugars in our mouths.
However, GLP-1 drugs can influence salivary gland function and decrease saliva production.
Additionally, they are also known to reduce thirst, further lowering saliva production.
"When the oral environment dries up, bacteria have a great time in there, causing decay and increased inflammatory response," Walton continued.
She outlined that the increased inflammatory response has a direct impact on gingival health which means you are more likely to have problems with gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis, by the way, is inflammation of the gums, while periodontitis is a more serious form of gum disease.
Asked how best to combat this disturbing condition, Dr Walton says hydration is key, and believes users should be drinking between 2-3 litres of water per day, or between 64-100 ounces if you're American.
In terms of promoting saliva production, she adds that sugar-free gum can work wonders.
In a bid to tackle dry mouth, Watson also recommends a number of products that have been specifically designed for this, like mouth sprays, oral rinse, moisturising gels and lozenges.
Oh, and avoid spicy food, she says, so as not to irritate the stomach.
In a statement to Tyla, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said: "Patient safety is a top priority for Novo Nordisk, and we take all reports about adverse events from use of our medicines very seriously.
"The information included in the labels of products Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, Wegovy® are agreed with the health authorities and does not include safety concerns about dry mouth, tooth extraction, tooth infections, toothaches, and other dental disorders based on assessment of the totality of evidence from clinical trials and post-marketing reports.
"Semaglutide has been studied in robust clinical development programs (SUSTAIN, PIONEER, STEP, SELECT, STRIDE, FLOW, SOUL) with more than 54,000 semaglutide exposed participants and exposure from post-marketing use of over 33 million patient-years.
"We continuously collect safety data on our marketed GLP-1 RA medicines and work closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety. As part of this work we continue to monitor reports of adverse drug reactions through routine pharmacovigilance.
"We recommend that any patients experiencing side effects while taking Novo Nordisk GLP receptor agonists report them to their healthcare provider and via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. Adverse events should also be reported to Novo Nordisk via the Customer Care Centre by calling 0800 023 2573."
Rhianna Benson