Featured Image Credit: Tatsiana Volkava / Getty
The visible results of popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic are hard to deny, as patients have managed to shed significant amounts in a short period of time, but worrying side effects have emerged including something that's dangerous for your teeth.
Ozempic's popularity began to surge in 2021 after patient testimonies raved about the drug's life-changing weight loss effects, and many decided to jump on the 'trend' after seeing countless celebrities experience a transformation.
Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Trainor, and even Elon Musk have all been vocal about their experience with weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, but while there are plenty of success stories, very few seem to discuss the negative consequences.
Grotesque simulations have revealed in great detail the effects that Ozempic has on your body, and there have even been reports that the drug causes bad breath due to the length of time food sits dormant in your stomach.
Advert
But now, there's another side effect that's worrying experts.
One perhaps unexpected side effect of the drug is what many are calling 'Ozempic teeth', as health experts have warned against the dangers that taking Ozempic can cause for your dental health, as reported by the International Business Times.
The causes appear to come in multiple forms, but experts suggest that the primary reason is found in the reduced activity of your salivary glands.
As Ozempic reduces your body's desire to eat, the salivary glands inside your mouth concurrently become less active, and this can have worrying consequences.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Michele Green outlined: "Saliva is crucial for protecting teeth, as it helps remove food particles, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, and provides essential minerals that strengthen tooth enamel."
Once that slows down thanks to Ozempic you open your self up to a wide range of potential dental issues that you can do almost nothing to combat while on the drug.
That's far from all of it though, as there other side effects of weight loss drugs can also deteriorate your teeth.
Much like Ozempic breath, acid reflux from your stomach - which increases due to the lower digestion rate - can damage your teeth, alongside weakening and dissolving the enamel.
The same is largely true for vomiting, which is a common side effect for those who take Ozempic - especially as your dosage increases. Even something as simple as dehydration, which you're likely to experience on these drugs, can have an effect on the health of your gums and teeth, so it's definitely something to consider before you consider a weight loss 'magic bullet' like Ozempic.
