Oral Adverse Effects of Semaglutide Therapy: A Narrative Review
- Design
- Pharmacovigilance · Unknown outcome
- Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
- Different population[Auto] Participants had obesity/overweight (age/BMI not reported in abstract).
- Could weight loss explain it?
- Unknown[Auto] Harm signal; weight-loss mediation not the relevant question, but consider whether harms relate to rapid weight loss or reduced intake.
- Study tier
- Study tier 4[Auto] Hypothesis-generating design (auto-provisional).
- Assessment
- Version 1 · automatic, not yet reviewed by a person · Sep 13, 2026
Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.
[Auto, unreviewed; quoted from abstract conclusions] Semaglutide therapy is associated with oral adverse effects, mainly xerostomia and sensory disturbances, which may compromise oral health. Awareness of these outcomes highlights the need for interdisciplinary oral health monitoring.
01Findings
What the study reported
- Drugs
- Semaglutide
- Route
- oral
- Primary outcome
- Not extracted
- Effect
- Not extracted
- 95% confidence interval
- Not extracted
- Follow-up
- Not stated
- Adverse events
- Not extracted
- Limitations
- Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.
Who was studied
- Obesity status
- obesity/overweight present (all or most)
- Diabetes status
- diabetes mentioned
Study quality details
- Study design
- Pharmacovigilance analysis
- Sample size
- not extracted
- Randomization
- no
- Blinding
- not stated
- Comparator
- not stated
- Follow up duration
- not stated
- Outcome type
- unknown
- Replication
- not assessed (auto)
- Consistency with other evidence
- not assessed (auto)
- Population applicability
- INDIRECT
- Statistical precision
- not extracted
- Risk of bias
- not assessed (auto)
- Funding conflicts
- unclear
- Peer review status
- yes
02Funding
Funding and conflicts
- Funding
- not reported in abstract
- Industry funded
- Unclear
- Manufacturer
- None identified
- Sponsor role
- not reported in abstract
- Author conflicts
- There are no conflicts of interest.
- Independent replication
- unknown
Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.
04Source
The source, as retrieved
Abstract
[OBJECTIVE] Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1-receptor agonist, is widely used for the management of type-2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Despite its increasing clinical use, the drug's oral adverse effect profile remains inadequately characterized. This narrative review aimed to analyze the current evidence on semaglutide-associated oral adverse effects, with emphasis on mechanistic pathways, integration of pharmacovigilance and clinical data, and emerging implications for oral health and dental practice. [METHODS] A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Keywords related to semaglutide and oral adverse effects were used. Eligible studies included clinical trials, pharmacovigilance analyses, observational studies, case reports, and preclinical research reporting oral adverse effects or relevant mechanistic insights. Studies lacking oral health correlates were excluded. Findings were narratively reviewed in accordance with Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles guidelines. [RESULTS] Xerostomia or hyposalivation is the most consistently reported oral adverse effect, although its prevalence varies across studies. However, xerostomia often occurs secondarily to gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, reduced oral intake, and delayed gastric emptying. Additional manifestations included dysgeusia, dry throat, oral paresthesia or hypoesthesia, halitosis, frothy saliva, and increased dental caries. Pharmacovigilance data show significant signals for dry mouth and altered taste. Case-series confirm semaglutide-associated hyposalivation. Limited evidence suggests increased susceptibility to oral candidiasis. Early experimental and observational data indicate potential modulatory effects on inflammation, tissue repair, and bone metabolism. [CONCLUSION] Semaglutide therapy is associated with oral adverse effects, mainly xerostomia and sensory disturbances, which may compromise oral health. Awareness of these outcomes highlights the need for interdisciplinary oral health monitoring.