Oral Piercings and Oral Health

Posted June 12, 2015

Are you considering getting a piercing in your tongue, cheek, or lip? Before getting an oral piercing, there are a few things you need to know about how it can negatively affect your oral health.

• Because your mouth is full of bacteria, the risk for infection and swelling from a piercing increases.
• You can crack your teeth with the constant clicking of a piercing or if you bite down on it.
• Your sense of taste can be altered.
• Piercings can interfere with speech, chewing, and swallowing.
• You could choke on a piece of jewelry if it breaks of in your mouth.
• You may experience an allergic reaction to the metal of a piercing.
• A pierce can cause increased saliva production which can lead to excessive drooling.
• A tongue piercing can caused prolonged bleeding.
• Your mouth and tongue can swell so much that they can block your airway.
• A piercing can cause nerve damage, permanently numbing the tongue and affecting how you move your mouth.
• Oral piercings can damage gum tissue and lead to gingival recession.
• Oral piercings can result in more serious infections like endocarditis or hepatitis.