SLIMMING PENS AND THEIR SIDE EFFECTS ON ORAL HEALTH

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the possible side effects of so-called "slimming pens," especially glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, on oral health. This is an integrative literature review, descriptive in nature and with a qualitative approach, conducted through searches in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, including clinical studies, observational studies, case reports, and scientific communications published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Five studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected and analyzed regarding their methodology and main findings. The results showed an association between the use of these medications and oral alterations, such as hyposalivation, xerostomia, dysgeusia, and possible damage to tooth enamel resulting from gastrointestinal events such as reflux and vomiting. It is concluded that, despite initial evidence indicating an impact on oral health, there is still a scarcity of robust clinical studies, and further research is needed for a better understanding of these associations and to support interdisciplinary clinical practice.