Tongue piercings can be a fun form of self-expression and individuality. But if you are considering getting a tongue piercing, talk to your dentist and educate yourself on the risks involved. Like any piercing, there’s a risk for infection—but when it comes to your oral health, the long-term effects could impact your teeth, gums, and other areas of your mouth. Learn what tongue piercings are, what to expect, the risks involved, and how to care for them.
A tongue piercing is a type of body piercing that is directly placed through the tongue. Interestingly, oral piercings have early origins as ancient types of body modification and self-expression. In fact, oral jewelry and tooth ornamentation existed in cultures worldwide, from the ancient Mayan civilization to modern-day Central America. Other decorative oral embellishments still exist today — like tooth gems, dental grills, and gold crowns. Still, tongue piercing is considered the most common type of oral piercing. This type of piercing is classified as “intraoral, ” meaning both ends of the jewelry reside in the mouth (whereas “perioral” means an oral piercing that has one end in the mouth and one end penetrating the skin’s surface).
You can choose from several options when it comes to piercings. Many select a stud, which at its most basic form is a rod with a metal sphere at both ends. Other types of tongue piercings, like barbells, rings, and hoops, are made of various metals like stainless steel, gold, and titanium.
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Tongue rings refer to a ring inserted through the lingual frenulum, the thin strip of tissue that connects the tongue’s underside to the floor of the mouth.
At this point, you might be wondering: Do tongue piercings ruin your teeth? Are tongue piercings bad for my teeth? How can I prevent tooth damage with a tongue piercing? Keep reading to learn about the risks associated with tongue piercings and how to minimize them.
These risks might seem a little scary, but oral piercing complications are relatively common, which is why you need a comprehensive understanding of the effects on your oral health. Luckily, dentists also commonly treat patients with oral piercings, so talk to your dentist before you decide to move forward.
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When you first get your tongue pierced, you may develop a habit of bumping your jewelry against your teeth when talking or eating or even biting it. This common habit can injure your gums and lead to cracked, scratched, or sensitive teeth. It can also damage fillings. While you might wish for tongue rings or piercings that don’t damage teeth, all tongue piercings put your mouth at risk. If you want to prevent tooth damage with a tongue piercing, talk to your dentist about ways to reduce this habit, as well as potential coverings for the piercing. Beyond the possibility of cracking and chipping, the jewelry can also accumulate plaque as it traps food and debris, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities.
Because of its moist nature, your mouth creates an ideal place for bacteria to grow and live. That puts your mouth at risk of infection, especially when you make an incision and introduce jewelry. An infected piercing could potentially become life-threatening, as your tongue could swell and block your airway.
Sometimes, your tongue may feel numb after getting pierced, which could be caused by temporary nerve damage. However, in some cases, the damage is permanent — which can affect your sense of taste and mouth movement.
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While a tongue piercing always puts your teeth at risk, you can implement some healthy habits to avoid these oral health issues. Check out these tips on taking care of your piercing.
While having a piercing can fulfill your need for self-expression, the American Dental Association advises against it, as the oral health risks outweigh the benefits. Still, if you have a piercing or want to get one, discuss it with your dentist to help keep your oral health in the best possible shape.
Oral Care Center articles are reviewed by an oral health medical professional. This information is for educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist, physician or other qualified healthcare provider.There has been an upsurge in the amount of teenagers getting tongue piercings. Teenagers often view these piercings as a harmless expression of their growing individuality. Oftentimes, parents allow teens to pierce their tongues because the metal bar is impermanent. In addition, tongue bars are not as visually apparent as a tattoo or eyebrow piercing might be.
How To Make A Tongue Piercing Less Painful
Unfortunately, tongue piercings can have a serious (even deadly) impact on health. Pediatric dentists routinely advise adolescents to avoid intraoral or perioral piercings for a number of good reasons.
First, there are a growing number of unlicensed piercing parlors in throughout the country. Such parlors have been recognized as potential transmission vectors for tetanus, tuberculosis, and most commonly - hepatitis. Second, a great number of painful conditions can result from getting a tongue piercing (even in a licensed parlor). These conditions include:
To pierce a tongue, the body piercer must first hold it steady with a clamp. Next, a hollowed, pointed metal needle is driven through the tongue. Finally, the piercer attaches the tongue bar to the bottom end of the needle, and then drags it upwards through the tongue. Two metal screw-on balls are then used to secure the tongue bar.
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Most commonly, severe pain and swelling are experienced for several days after the piercing episode. Moreover, the new holes in the tongue are especially infection-prone, because the oral cavity is home to many bacteria colonies. In the medium term, saliva production may increase as the body responds to a completely unnatural entity in the mouth.
Long-term problems with tongue piercings are very common. The screw-on balls constantly scrape against tooth enamel, making teeth susceptible to decay and gums susceptible to periodontal disease. Soft tissue can also become infected in specific areas, as the tongue bar continues to rub against it.
If the tongue bar is inappropriately long, it can get tangled around the tongue or teeth. In a similar way to an earring getting ripped out of the ear, a tongue bar can be ripped out of the tongue. This is extremely painful, as well as difficult to repair.
Atrophy Of Left Half Of Tongue (arrow)
If you are a concerned parent, or would like the pediatric dentist to speak with your teen about tongue piercing, please contact our office.Piercing your tongue can cause the infection to spread to other parts of your body. Additionally, piercing your tongue can make it difficult for the infection to heal and can even cause further complications. If you have an infection, it is best to wait until it has cleared up before considering getting your tongue pierced.
Tongue piercings have become a popular way for both men and women to express themselves. However, like any form of body art, tongue piercings can result in certain medical issues and must be taken care of carefully. One common issue associated with tongue piercing is infection. If you’ve recently gotten your tongue pierced or are thinking about it, understanding the causes, symptoms, prevention tips, and available treatments is essential to ensure you stay safe and healthy during the healing process.
Tongue piercings can add a unique and eye-catching element to your look, but like any other piercing, it needs to be monitored for proper healing. Unfortunately, an infection can occur if a tongue piercing isn't taken care of properly. Signs of infection in a tongue piercing include pain or tenderness in the area along with swelling, discoloration, redness and inflammation.
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In severe cases, crusty yellowish pus may be present as well as general discomfort when talking or swallowing saliva. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please seek a medical professional for advice immediately as an untreated infection can lead to dangerous complications.
Tongue piercings are becoming an increasingly popular form of body modification, and it is important to know the signs of an infection so that you can take proper care of your piercing. Some common signs include swelling, tenderness and discomfort when eating or speaking, redness or discoloration in the area around the piercing, and pus or thick discharge at the piercing site.
If you start experiencing a fever, prolonged pain, unusual discoloration of the tongue itself like yellowish-green hues, or a foul taste in your mouth that persists, these are considered more serious symptoms and a medical professional should be consulted immediately. Taking proper care of any body piercing is essential to avoid infection, so make sure to keep your tongue clean with an antiseptic rinse after eating and brush your teeth twice a day with toothpaste labeled “safe for piercings”.
The Ins And Outs Of Tongue Piercing
Swelling is one of the signs that someone may have an infected tongue piercing. It is important to pay attention to any signs that may indicate an infection, including changes in the size, shape, or color of the tongue piercing. Redness and pain around the area can also be signs that there is a problem.
In addition to swelling, signs of infection can include fever and pus/discharge
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