I lost 9 stone on Mounjaro but was hit by a disfiguring side-effect

When Hope Lancaster Colquhoun was sent photos of her sister’s wedding, where she was a bridesmaid, she should have been thrilled.

But the 42-year-old, who lives in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, could hardly bear to open the file. 

Instead, the ‘defeated’ mum of one, who weighed around 18 stone, was filled with dread at how ‘heavy’ she would look.

So when, months later, she was diagnosed with diabetes, prescribed Mounjaro and instantly shed the pounds, the weight loss jab felt like a ‘lifeline’. 

Dropping nine stone and going from a size 22 to a size 8 in the space of just a year, she looked ‘like a totally new person’. 

Her weight, however, wasn’t the only dramatic change she noticed.

‘As I ran my tongue against the top of my mouth, I felt a sharp, jagged edge,’ the influencer, who is originally from Texas in the US, said. 

‘I looked in the mirror and was left horrified as not one, but multiple, of my teeth had completely snapped in half.’

In a panic, she arranged an emergency appointment with a dentist who told her that at least seven of her teeth would have to be pulled out immediately.

‘I sat in the chair, feeling sick to my stomach, as they yanked my natural teeth away,’ she recalled.

‘My gnashers before were perfect and I was really proud of my natural smile. I never had any dental work and kept up with my dental hygiene more than most people I knew.’

Like many on the jabs, Ms Lancaster Colquhoun had experienced side-effects including nausea and indigestion, but noticed no debilitating impact. 

‘Doctors think it’s because I’ve lost so much weight in such a short frame of time,’ she explains.   

More than 1.5 million patients in the UK are now paying for private Mounjaro prescriptions, as well as a similar drug called Wegovy.

But increasingly, users are experiencing a surprising and distressing effect of what are known medically as GLP-1 drugs: tooth decay. 

Receding or sensitive gums, yellowing teeth, bad breath, gum disease and even tooth loss are among the distressing symptoms. 

In online forums, jab users have also told how they lost teeth and developed cavities and gum inflammation weeks after beginning the medication. 

According to dental experts, who have seen a rise in what they dub ‘Ozempic teeth’, this is in part the result of acid reflux caused by the injections.

The jabs make people feel full by slowing down the rate of digestion, which can lead to food remaining in the stomach for longer periods.

The longer it sits, the higher the risk of stomach acid refluxing into the mouth – weakening and dissolving the enamel and making teeth more susceptible to decay.

There are medications including proton pump inhibitors (PPI), like omeprazole, that can be taken to relieve acid reflux, but these should not be taken regularly in the long term. 

Experts have also suggested a lack of saliva, triggered by using the jabs, could be the culprit.

Dr Edward Li, principal dentist and co-founder at The a.b.c Smile in London, told the Daily Mail: ‘GLP-1 drugs slow the emptying of the stomach, which can increase reflux and nausea. 

‘When acid repeatedly washes into the mouth, enamel is softened and gradually worn away. 

‘This can raise the risk of sensitivity and cavities, but on its own is unlikely to cause a tooth to be lost unless there were already significant dental problems.

‘A more likely explanation is dry mouth, or xerostomia. 

‘These drugs dampen appetite and often reduce the sensation of thirst. Patients commonly drink less water and produce less saliva. 

‘Saliva is vital for protecting teeth: it neutralises acid, carries minerals to repair early enamel damage, and contains immune defences against bacteria. 

‘Without it, plaque builds up and gum disease can progress much faster. 

‘Reports of “Ozempic mouth” or “Ozempic teeth” are increasingly being seen in our clinic, reflecting this.’ 

Patients who lose teeth while taking drugs may also have had ‘underlying gum disease, weakened enamel or a genetic predisposition’, he added. 

‘In such cases, the added stress of dry mouth or acid exposure may tip the balance, pushing already compromised teeth past the point of saving.

‘Rapid changes in body weight, whether drug-induced or not, can have side-effects of their own. Nutritional gaps, especially in protein and minerals, may reduce the resilience of both bone and gum tissue. 

‘This does not mean the injections directly cause tooth loss, but that the pace and physiology of weight loss may make pre-existing dental problems worse.’

Equally, jab users may be more susceptible to dental issues because they’re failing to eat a balanced diet.

According to Dr Rizwan Mahmood, a private dentist at London clinic Ruh Dental, ‘eating less can also mean fewer nutrients like calcium and vitamin D – essentials for healthy teeth and gums.

‘We’re seeing more inflammation and gum issues in patients using these medications, especially if they’re not eating a balanced diet.’

He also told the Daily Mail: ‘GLP-1 patients often opt for softer, more processed foods which, if not counterbalanced with good hygiene, can quickly lead to plaque build-up.

‘While these medications are highly effective, they can inadvertently create conditions that harm oral health.’

Research has also suggested a diet high in soft and hyper-palatable processed foods may reduce facial muscle strength and trigger teeth issues.

But regularly chewing solid and fibrous foods exercises the jaw, helping to prevent deficiencies in the size and shape of dental arches.

So devastating is the impact of the crippling dental side-effect that one patient has even filed a lawsuit against Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly and Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk.

Attorneys for Jaclyn Bjorklund, from Louisiana, who had used both injections, claimed she was diagnosed with a condition called gastroparesis after using the jabs, which caused her to vomit so much that some of her teeth fell out.

Others have taken to social media forums to share their concerns over their rapidly declining dental health while on the jabs.

In one Reddit thread with more than 149,000 users, a user wrote: ‘In the last week I have developed a bad inflammation on my gums. 

‘On some teeth I feel like the gum is receding or shrinking because I can see and feel the tooth necks which look orange.’

Another said: ‘Since starting my journey, I’ve lost 80 pounds in five months. Has anyone noticed that since starting you are more prone to tooth decay or cavities!? 

‘I’ve always had cavities every so often but I can count at least six right now.’

For Ms Lancaster Colquhoun, the debilitating side-effect has seen her shell out more than £3,700 to fix her teeth.  

But despite now needing dentures for life, she insists that taking the weight loss jab has saved her life.

‘I’d encourage people to consider the jab because of how life-changing it’s been for me,’ she said.   

Responding to Ms Lancaster Colquhoun’s tale, Eli Lilly said: ‘Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority, and we take any reports regarding patient safety extremely seriously.

‘Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine.

‘Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating and reporting safety data to ensure the latest information is available for regulators and prescribers.’