Oral Health-Related Adverse Events of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

As the clinical use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) continues to grow for the management of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and renal protection, noncirrhotic fatty liver disease, and weight management, their potential implications for oral health need to be considered.

This study examined oral health-related adverse events (AEs) associated with GLP-1 RAs using postmarketing data from the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

FAERS reports for available GLP-1 RAs, exenatide, liraglutide, semaglutide, dulaglutide, and tirzepatide, were screened from their initial market introduction through December 2025, identifying 364,274 total AE reports, of which 31,195 (8.6%) involved oral, craniofacial, or dental manifestations.

Tirzepatide, despite being one of the most recently approved GLP-1 RAs, accounted for the highest overall AE volume, and semaglutide demonstrated the largest proportion of oral health-related AEs. A disproportionality analysis revealed a significant drug-specific signal for dry mouth of semaglutide, while vomiting, regurgitation, and reflux-related events produced a significant signal across all 5 drugs. Sensory disorders, including dysgeusia and taste disturbances, also demonstrated significant proportional reporting ratios (PRRs) and reporting odds ratios (RORs) for several GLP-1 RAs. Association analysis of AEs showed significant associations between vomiting and taste disturbances, as well as between dry mouth and dysgeusia, particularly with semaglutide and dulaglutide.

This analysis highlights emerging safety signals in oral health and underscores the need for heightened clinical awareness and prospective studies to characterize the incidence, timing, and mechanisms of oral AEs associated with GLP-1 RA therapy.Knowledge Transfer Statement:Understanding the oral adverse effects associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists allows clinicians and dental providers to more effectively counsel patients initiating or continuing these medications. By recognizing early symptoms such as dry mouth, dysgeusia, and reflux-related irritation, providers can implement targeted preventive strategies-including hydration guidance, salivary substitutes, dietary modifications, and closer oral health monitoring-to reduce complications and improve patient comfort, adherence, and overall treatment outcomes. This knowledge enhances interdisciplinary management of individuals using GLP-1 RAs.