Oral Piercings
So You Want to Pierce Your Tongue?
- Oral piercing
can cause pain, swelling, infection, drooling, taste loss, scarring,
chipped teeth, and tooth loss
- Most dentists discourage it because
of these risks
- To avoid infections such as HIV or hepatitis,
ask the person performing the piercing about aftercare, cleanliness
and anything that may
concern you
- Is a fresh needle used for every piercing? Some may
reuse needles to keep down the cost of the piercing
- Make sure
they completely sterilize all needles and instruments in an autoclave,
which uses extreme heat to sanitize instruments
- If they are not
prepared to answer your questions, go somewhere else
- Also, make
sure that they use the right kind of metal, such as surgical-grade
stainless steel.
Some people have allergic reactions to certain metals, which
can lead to further complications
Chipped teeth
- Fractured teeth are a common problem for people with oral piercings
- People chip teeth on tongue piercings while eating, sleeping,
talking and simply chewing on the jewelry
- The fracture can
be confined to the enamel of your tooth or may go deep into
your tooth, which may require a root canal or extraction
Possible infections
- It is not unusual for the tongue to swell after being punctured,
but in some cases the tongue becomes infected and swells so much
that it can cut off your breathing
- In rare cases, doctors may
pass a breathing tube through a patient's nose until such an
infection passes
- Your mouth has high levels of bacteria. When
you puncture the oral cavity, these bacteria may find a way into
your bloodstream
- Bacteria can also reach your heart and cause
a variety of health problems
How do I maintain my piercing?
- Once your tongue has been pierced, it will take 3-4 weeks to
heal
- Barring complications, you will be able to remove the
jewelry for short periods of time without the hole closing
- You may want to remove the jewelry to protect your teeth every
time you eat or sleep
- Some parlors sell plugs you can place in
the hole, which should allow you to remove the jewelry for as
long as necessary
- The piercer will place a larger, starter "barbell" in
your tongue to give it enough room to heal when your tongue swells
- If you keep the piercing, get a smaller barbell after the
swelling goes down, which will be less likely to get in the way
of your
teeth and more difficult for you to chew on
Keep it clean
- Use an antiseptic mouthwash after every meal and brush the jewelry
the same as you would your teeth
- After the tongue has healed,
take the piercing out every night and brush it as you would
your teeth to remove any unseen plaque
- Consider removing the
piercing before eating, sleeping or strenuous activity
Reprinted with permission from the Academy
of General Dentistry
