Know the risks before getting an oral piercing
Oral piercings are one of the most unique and dramatic changes that someone can make to their appearance. Of course, they stand apart from other kinds of facial piercings (think nose rings and earrings) due to the fact that they are inserted right into your tongue.
If you’re considering getting a tongue ring, you have likely thought to yourself, “isn’t having metal piercings inserted into my mouth a health risk?”. It’s a question that health professionals have been frequently studying in recent years due to the growing popularity of oral piercings, and their answer may come as a bit of a let down to those looking to get the piercing procedure done.
They are linked to tooth loss
One study by the Journal of the American Dental Association, a leading industry journal not only in the United States but for all of North America, found that having oral piercings done on the tongue or the lip have been linked to possible tooth loss. According to the research, even having the piercings in for relatively short periods of time has been shown to have a possible link to deformities in the gums that may be difficult to fix, often leading to tooth loss.
Tongue piercings pose a real risk of damage to your mouth. This is because the metal rubs right up against your teeth and gums, wearing down your gums and exposing the roots of your teeth. As many people with oral piercings develop a habit of chewing on the bit of metal in their mouth, it’s not surprising that chipped teeth can also result. The risks go beyond just gum and tooth damage. In fact, due to the type of metal used in the procedure there is also a risk of developing an allergic reaction.
They open the door for infections
Another common risk is developing an infection. Think about it, the piercing will be opening a hole in your tongue. This can be a major issue, as the tongue is normally really quite impregnable to outside forces due to its thick outer layer of skin and germ killing saliva. However, if you cut a hole in your tongue by having a piercing put in, this can be like a new path opening up for bacteria and germs to get past your natural defenses and into your body – putting your general health at risk.