If you or someone you love is considering
oral piercings, there are some things that you should know before you or a
family member or friend has tongue, cheek, or lip piercings.
Your dentist explains that oral piercings can
cause all sorts of problems including infection, blood loss, and gum disease
and jewelry aspiration.
The American Dental Association agrees with
your dentist about the dangers of oral piercings. In fact, oral piercings could
cause your tongue to swell so much that it blocks off the air passageways
making breathing extremely difficult.
Infectious diseases are just one of the
issues that could occur from oral piercings. The Herpes Simplex virus and
hepatitis can happen if you have your tongue, lip, or cheek pierced.
Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria
and if that bacteria enters your bloodstream after the piercing infection and
swelling will occur. This could also cause excessive bleeding.
Because your mouth is moist and a breeding ground
for bacteria, infection can happen, which could be life threatening. If that
bacteria enters your bloodstream and you have undetected heart problems
Endocarditis, or inflammation of the valves of the heart and the heart itself,
could be a real issue.
Your dentist has seen permanent nerve damage
thanks to oral piercings. Numbness is normal after you have your tongue, cheek,
or lip pierced, but that numbness could be permanent. That injured nerve could
affect how your mouth moves and your taste buds.
If you are sensitive to metals, oral
piercings could cause allergic reactions once the jewelry is placed at the site
of the piercing.
Crowns, fillings, and caps could also be
damaged because people who have oral piercings tend to bite or play with the
stud, ring, or barbell. Damage to gums could also occur which could lead to gum disease, gum recession and eventual tooth loss.
Oral piercings could increase your saliva
production. This may cause excessive drooling that could be permanent.
Jewelry aspiration happens when part of the
jewelry becomes loose. This could lead to choking if swallowed leading to lung
or digestive track injury.
