Oral Health Implications of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Other Incretin-Based Therapies

Incretin-based therapies have transformed the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Established agents-the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) semaglutide and liraglutide, and the dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide-are now widely used, while a diverse pipeline of multi-receptor agents is advancing through late-phase development. GLP-1 receptors are expressed in several oral and other craniofacial tissues, raising the question of how these drugs affect oral health. This narrative review (PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov; January 2010-June 2026) integrates mechanistic studies, randomised controlled trials, pharmacovigilance data, society guidance, and the patient-facing phenomena increasingly raised in the dental chair. Preclinical and limited clinical evidence suggests that GLP-1 RAs may attenuate periodontal inflammation, while their effects on alveolar bone remain uncertain, reflecting both direct receptor and indirect metabolic influences. Concurrently, gastrointestinal adverse effects (nausea, vomiting, belching), reduced fluid intake, and possible salivary changes underlie a cluster of patient-reported complaints colloquially termed "Ozempic mouth", "Ozempic teeth", and "Ozempic breath", alongside the facial soft-tissue changes seen in "Ozempic face". Human oral-health-endpoint data remain scarce; much evidence is preclinical, indirect, or derived from case-level or pharmacovigilance reports. The oral cavity is nonetheless a plausible direct target of incretin pharmacotherapy and a practical monitoring site for tolerability. Dental practitioners should proactively manage the oral consequences of these agents, and validated oral health endpoints should be incorporated into future incretin trials.