Ozempic and Wegovy have been hailed as marvel medicine in terms of weight reduction. However because the drug has turn out to be extra broadly used, plenty of unintended side-effects have turn out to be obvious—with the load loss drug affecting the looks of every part from your butt to your feet.
“Ozempic face” is one other generally reported penalties of utilizing these fashionable weight reduction medicine. This can be a sunken or hollowed out look the face can tackle in individuals taking weight reduction medicine. It might additionally improve indicators of ageing—together with strains, 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 may additionally 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 might 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 (akin to semaglutide) may reduce water intake by affecting areas in the brain liable for thirst. Low fluid consumption additional reduces saliva production, and should even trigger the saliva to turn out to be thick and frothy and the tongue to become sticky.
Dangerous 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 unhealthy breath and the formation of cavities to thrive. These bacterial species embrace Streptococcus mutans and a few strains of Lactobacillus.
One other species that has been proven to thrive in circumstances the place saliva is lowered is Porphyromonas gingivalis. This micro organism is a big contributor to the manufacturing of risky sulphur compounds, which cause the foul odours attribute of halitosis.
One other issue that may clarify why semaglutide causes unhealthy breath is as a result of much less saliva being produced means the tongue isn’t cleaned. This is identical motive why your “morning breath” is so unhealthy, as a result of we naturally produce much less saliva at evening. This permits 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 unhealthy breath.
Tooth harm
One of many major side-effects of Ozempic is vomiting. Semaglutide slows how rapidly the abdomen empties, delaying digestion which might 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 lowered saliva manufacturing, this places the enamel at even better threat of injury. 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 types 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 kind of mucus which helps saliva stick to the teeth.
Decreasing the danger of injury
When you’re taking semaglutide, there are numerous issues you are able to do to maintain your mouth wholesome.
Ingesting water commonly through the day can assist to maintain the oral surfaces from drying out. This helps preserve your pure oral microbiome, which might cut back the danger of an overgrowth of the micro organism that trigger unhealthy breath and tooth harm.
Ingesting loads of water additionally permits the physique to produce the saliva needed to stop dry mouth, ideally the really helpful each day quantity of six to eight glasses. Chewing sugar-free gum can be a wise possibility because it helps to encourage saliva manufacturing. Swallowing this saliva retains the valuable fluid within the body. Gums containing eucalyptus could assist to stop halitosis, too.
There’s some proof that probiotics could assist to alleviate bad breath, a minimum of within the brief time period. Utilizing a probiotic supplements or consuming probiotic-rich meals (akin to 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 effectively.
Ladies are twice as likely to have side-effects when taking GLP-1 receptor agonists–together with gastrointestinal symptoms akin to vomiting. This can be as a result of intercourse hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which might alter the gut’s sensitivity. To keep away from vomiting, attempt consuming smaller meals for the reason that abdomen stays fuller for longer whereas taking semaglutide.
If you’re sick, don’t instantly brush your enamel as this can unfold the abdomen’s acid over the floor of the enamel and improve the danger of injury. As a substitute, rinse your mouth out with water or mouthwash to cut back the energy of the acid and wait a minimum of half-hour earlier than brushing.
It isn’t clear how lengthy these negative effects final, they’ll doubtless disappear when the remedy 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 a better dose is taken.
Adam Taylor, Professor of Anatomy, Lancaster University. This text is republished from The Conversation below a Inventive Commons license. Learn the original article.
