In case you’re taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound, I have to let you know one thing your physician in all probability didn’t point out after they wrote that prescription.
Your mouth is taking a beating.
Possibly you’ve already seen it.
Most prescribing medical doctors aren’t warning sufferers about this.
Since you should know what’s taking place in your mouth and what you are able to do about it proper now—earlier than you’re sitting in a dental chair with hundreds of {dollars} in therapy forward of you.
The Downside: Three Methods Ozempic Assaults Your Mouth
GLP-1 drugs work by slowing gastric emptying—that’s how they suppress urge for food. However that very same mechanism triggers a cascade of oral well being issues:
1. Extreme Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)
Semaglutide (the energetic ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) impacts your salivary glands, decreasing saliva manufacturing. Analysis printed in 2025 confirms this: these drugs trigger hyposalivation—actually, not sufficient saliva.
And right here’s why that issues: saliva is your mouth’s first line of protection. It neutralizes acids, washes away meals particles, and repeatedly remineralizes your enamel. With out ample saliva, you’re defenseless towards decay.
2. Delayed Gastric Emptying Results in Acid Publicity
As a result of these drugs sluggish how rapidly your abdomen empties, meals sits there longer. In some folks, this will trigger bloating, nausea, and—critically on your tooth—acid reflux disorder.
3. Disrupted Oral Microbiome
The mix of dry mouth and repeated acid publicity doesn’t simply injury enamel—it essentially disrupts your oral microbiome.
With out ample saliva to buffer acids and keep a wholesome pH, pathogenic micro organism can overgrow. This creates situations for:
- Accelerated tooth decay
- Gum irritation and illness
- Unhealthy breath (halitosis)
- Quicker plaque buildup
Right here’s what makes this particularly regarding: the mix of dry mouth + acid publicity + disrupted microbiome creates situations for tooth decay that may develop quicker than your regular six-month cleansing schedule.
What You Can Do Proper Now
In case you’re taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or any GLP-1 remedy, you might want to act now—not in six months at your subsequent cleansing.
Right here’s the protocol I like to recommend:
1. Assist Saliva Manufacturing with Zinc
Zinc is crucial for wholesome salivarynnbi gland operate. A 2019 examine in Scientific Studies discovered that zinc might help to stimulate saliva secretion by the ZnR/GPR39 receptor—even in folks with extreme dry mouth. And, in my expertise, most individuals don’t get ample zinc from eating regimen alone.
What I like to recommend: A high-quality zinc complement, 15-30mg every day. That is the one I take.
2. Shield Your Mobile Power with CoQ10
Your salivary glands want mobile power to provide saliva. CoQ10 is crucial for that power manufacturing—it’s the electron service in your mitochondria. Analysis printed in PLOS One reveals CoQ10 supplementation improves mitochondrial respiration and will increase ATP synthesis.
Whereas there’s no particular analysis on CoQ10 and GLP-1 drugs, supporting mobile power manufacturing is an affordable strategy when your physique is underneath metabolic stress from speedy weight reduction and diminished vitamin.
What I like to recommend: 100-200mg of CoQ10 every day. That is the one I take.
3. Assist Your Anti-Inflammatory Response with C15:0
Irritation doesn’t keep native to your mouth. Gum illness is linked to a 19-36% improve in heart problems danger and a 34% larger danger of cognitive impairment.
C15:0 (pentadecanoic acid) is an odd-chain saturated fatty acid that rising analysis suggests could also be important. A 2023 examine in Vitamins discovered that C15:0 shares anti-inflammatory actions with longevity-enhancing compounds like rapamycin—decreasing key inflammatory markers together with MCP-1, TNF-α, and a number of interleukins.
Whereas there’s no particular analysis on C15:0 and GLP-1 drugs, supporting your physique’s anti-inflammatory response is an affordable strategy when coping with oral tissue stress and systemic irritation.
What I like to recommend: 100-200mg of C15:0 every day. That is the one I take.
4. Assist Hydration with Magnesium
In case you have dry mouth otherwise you’re dehydrated, magnesium is crucial. Magnesium retains water in your physique—with out it, you pee all of it out. This can be a well-known precept in dentistry that most individuals don’t notice.
Once you’re already coping with dry mouth from GLP-1 drugs, correct hydration turns into much more essential. Magnesium helps make sure the water you drink truly stays in your system to assist saliva manufacturing.
What I like to recommend: A high-quality magnesium complement. (That is the one I’ve taken every day for practically ten years.)
5. Strengthen Enamel with Nano-Hydroxyapatite
That is non-negotiable. In case you’re on Ozempic, you might want to change to a toothpaste that actively rebuilds enamel, not simply cleans it.
Nano-hydroxyapatite is the mineral your tooth are made from. When utilized topically, it fills in micro-lesions and strengthens enamel towards acid assaults.
I created Fygg toothpaste particularly for that reason—it makes use of the correct type of hydroxyapatite, it’s freed from important oils that disrupt your oral microbiome, and it’s fully clear about elements.
What to do: Brush with nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste twice every day. That is the one I take advantage of (and co-formulated).
6. Rinse with Water After Each Meal
This appears virtually too easy, however it’s crucial. After consuming or experiencing any acid reflux disorder, rinse vigorously with water.
Don’t brush instantly (that may truly injury softened enamel)—simply rinse with water, which helps to neutralize acid and clear meals particles whereas your saliva manufacturing is compromised.
Hold a water bottle with you always.
7. Enhance Your Cleansing Frequency
In case you’re seeing your dentist each six months, that’s not sufficient anymore. You must transfer to each three to 4 months.
Why? As a result of the decay course of is accelerated when you’ve got persistent dry mouth and acid publicity. What used to take a yr to develop can now occur in three months.
Your hygienist can take away buildup earlier than it turns into an issue and catch early demineralization whereas it’s nonetheless reversible.
8. Contemplate Xylitol Gum
Xylitol gum serves two functions:
- It stimulates saliva movement (mechanical stimulation from chewing)
- It feeds helpful oral micro organism, not pathogenic ones
Chew xylitol gum after meals and all through the day. In case you can, attempt to discover a microplastic-free xylitol gum—the important thing ingredient to search for is “chicle.”
9. Discover a Practical Dentist
Most dentists aren’t excited about this connection but. They’re not asking about Ozempic, and so they’re not connecting the dots between your remedy and your sudden dental issues.
You want a dentist who understands the oral-systemic connection and who can work with you proactively—not simply react to cavities after they’ve already fashioned.
Use my Practical Dentist Listing to search out somebody in your space who thinks this fashion.
These are dentists who perceive that your mouth is linked to your entire physique, and so they’ll associate with you to stop issues earlier than they begin.
I’m not telling you to cease taking Ozempic—that’s between you and your physician. However should you’re taking these drugs, you might want to shield your mouth—as a result of the dental problems are actual, and so they’re preventable.
Mark


References & Additional Studying
Tanaka et al. (2002). “Secretory operate of the salivary gland in sufferers with style issues or xerostomia: correlation with zinc deficiency.” PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12132611/
Sakai et al. (2019). “Zn2+ stimulates salivary secretions through metabotropic zinc receptor ZnR/GPR39 in human salivary gland cells.” Scientific Studies. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-54173-3
Hernández-Camacho et al. (2018). “Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation in Ageing and Illness.” Frontiers in Physiology. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2018.00044/full
Venn-Watson et al. (2023). “Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0), an Important Fatty Acid, Shares Clinically Related Cell-Primarily based Actions with Main Longevity-Enhancing Compounds.” Vitamins. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10649853/
Venn-Watson et al. (2020). “Efficacy of dietary odd-chain saturated fatty acid pentadecanoic acid parallels broad related well being advantages in people: may it’s important?” Scientific Studies. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-64960-y
Dialog Article (2025). “Dry mouth, dangerous breath and tooth injury: the consequences Ozempic and Wegovy can have in your mouth.” https://theconversation.com/dry-mouth-bad-breath-and-tooth-damage-the-effects-ozempic-and-wegovy-can-have-on-your-mouth-257859
MDLinx. “Ozempic tongue and different oral negative effects defined.” https://www.mdlinx.com/article/ozempic-tongue-and-other-oral-side-effects-explained/14KksdwDRewoiHHbMCdv3V
