GLP-1 medicines and dental care
Quick answer
Should I tell my dentist if I take Ozempic or Mounjaro?
Yes. Tell your dentist or anaesthetist about medicines such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, why you take them, your dose and any nausea, reflux or vomiting.
These medicines can delay stomach emptying, which matters for sedation or general anaesthesia planning. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine without advice from its prescriber.
Why does your dental team need to know?
A current medicines list helps the dental team plan safely. The NHS semaglutide advice specifically says to tell healthcare professionals if you use it before a general anaesthetic or sedative for a procedure. This applies even when the dental treatment itself seems routine; the team can decide what information is relevant.
See the NHS semaglutide information and the NHS Education for Scotland dental briefing for current professional context.
Can these medicines affect your mouth?
Some people experience nausea, vomiting, reflux, appetite changes or dry mouth while taking GLP-1 medicines. Repeated vomiting or reflux can expose teeth to stomach acid, but these effects are not inevitable and do not prove a medicine has damaged your teeth. The dental evidence is still limited, so describe your own symptoms rather than assuming a cause.
Should you pause a dose before dental treatment?
Do not pause, skip or change a dose based on general online advice. Tell both the prescribing clinician and dental team about planned sedation or general anaesthesia, then follow their individual instructions. For a check-up or treatment under local anaesthetic, your dentist can advise what is relevant to your appointment.
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