The increased use of GLP-1s could have implications for the oral health of patients.
GLP-1 use has overtaken bariatric surgery as the dominant obesity treatment for adolescents and young adults, according to research published in JAMA Pediatrics. Research tracking 204,148 patients ages 13 to 25 found exclusive GLP-1 use climbed from 88.2% to 96.1% between 2022 and 2026, while bariatric surgery completion fell from 11.6% to 3.7% over the same period.
GLP-1s accounted for 14% of U.S. drug spending last year, with these drugs costing $131.9 billion of the $915.2 billion spent on all prescriptions in 2025. The U.S. prescription drug market is predicted to exceed $1 trillion this year, with GLP-1 drugs being the primary drivers of this growth. It is estimated that approximately 25 million individuals in the U.S. will be taking a GLP-1 by 2030, according to J.P. Morgan.
The CareQuest Institute for Oral Health recently published a new report on the link between GLP-1s and oral health.
10 notes:
1. The use of GLP-1s has increased over the past decade for diabetes, cardiovascular risk and obesity. These medications may offer indirect oral health benefits because these conditions are linked to periodontal disease.
2. GLP-1s can also cause dry mouth and gastrointestinal symptoms that could increase the risk of enamel erosion and other oral health issues.
3. Proper oral hygiene practices while taking these medications can maintain or improve oral health while helping to ensure the GLP-1s are working effectively.
4. CareQuest found that despite the potential oral health benefits and risks associated with GLP-1s, healthcare providers often don’t consider the impact of these medications on oral health when prescribing them.
5. The organization said oral healthcare providers should include GLP-1 medications on health history forms and ask patients about any prescription medications they are taking during each visit. All healthcare providers should also ask patients taking these medications about the side effects and monitor for increased caries rates and signs of enamel erosion.
6. Additionally, primary care physicians and other providers should encourage patients to seek regular dental care and refer patients to a dental provider if needed.
7. CareQuest said the treatment of patients using GLP-1s requires medical-dental integration, including interoperable EHRs and increased communication between providers with mutual patients.
8. The organization added that there are currently no longitudinal studies using population-level data to evaluate changes to oral health with GLP-1 use. There are also very few studies of GLP-1s that evaluate oral health impacts directly, making it difficult for healthcare providers to provide tailored recommendations to patients beyond prevention and management of caries and periodontal disease.
9. CareQuest said research should evaluate changes in caries risk and periodontal disease incidence over time in large samples of individuals taking GLP-1s.
10. CareQuest also encouraged the use of dental diagnostic codes to help researchers better understand the long-term oral health impacts of GLP-1 medications.
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