The Impact of Piercings on Oral Health - What You Need to Know
Posted on 7/15/2024 by Office - Boone DMD |
 For many of us, body piercings can be a form of self-expression or an aesthetic preference. While oral piercings, specifically on the tongue and lip, have become increasingly popular, it's important to be aware of the potential impacts they can have on your oral health.
As an expert general dentist, I see firsthand the consequences of oral piercings on teeth, gums, and overall well-being. I believe in providing comprehensive information to patients and potential patients. This post is dedicated to shedding light on how these practices affect your [oral health], allowing you to make informed decisions before considering oral body modifications.
Immediate and Long-Term Impact: A Deeper Look
The initial few weeks following an oral piercing are crucial, with swelling, discomfort, and potential speech impairment being common experiences. However, the risks don't end there:
Beyond Oral Health: Additional Concerns to Remember
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Damage to the Teeth: Piercings in close proximity to your teeth can chip, loosen, or even fracture them due to continuous contact, impacting chewing and requiring costly restorations. |
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Gum Recession & Irritation: Constant friction against the gums can lead to receding gum lines, exposing sensitive root surfaces that are more vulnerable to decay and sensitivity. This can also trigger painful conditions like periodontitis, a severe inflammation around the tooth that can even result in tooth loss. |
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Increased Risk of Infection: Oral piercings create open wounds in areas teeming with bacteria, making you susceptible to oral infections. These can lead to further complications like swelling, pain, pus discharge, and even systemic illnesses if left untreated. |
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Nerve damage: The tongue has many nerves, and a careless piercer may damage the lingual nerve causing numbness, pain and loss of function on your tongue. |
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Interrupted daily life: Swellings may make chewing difficult. You may also need to take time off work to have the initial piercing done and to deal with any complications or rejections of the piercing. |
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Endocarditis: For people with certain heart valve conditions like heart murmurs, bacteria from oral infections caused by the piercing may travel through bloodstream and affect their heart causing a serious and sometimes fatal infection called Endocarditis. |
Beyond affecting your [oral health], oral piercings also come with other disadvantages:
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Professional limitations: Certain jobs and professions restrict visible oral modifications, potentially hindering career choices. |
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Social stigma: While increasingly common, some social circles and cultures disapprove of body art like oral piercings. |
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Risk of choking: If the jewelry gets snagged on something like clothing and breaks loose you could choke on it. This is especially dangerous for young children who might put the jewelry or loose parts of it in their mouths. |
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Allergic reactions: There is always risk of an allergic reaction to the material the piercing is made with. |
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Interference with medical procedures: Some medical scans may be hindered if the piercing jewelry contains metal. You will have to remove the jewelry every single time you get an MRI scan and this may delay treatment. |
With the potential for such negative consequences and risks, oral health experts like myself encourage careful consideration before deciding on oral piercings. Weigh your desire against these potential drawbacks and understand your tolerance for potential complications. It's always better to be aware, informed, and cautious when it comes to your health! |
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