Tongue piercing may be trendy for some, but your family dentist warns it could be detrimental to your dental well-being.
This includes tongue piercing, a process that entails punching a hole in the tongue and placing a decorative metal stud in the hole. While this may be considered a fashion trend to some, your family dentist strongly advises against tongue piercing, as it jeopardizes overall dental health.
Many consequences can arise as a result of tongue piercing, including the following:
- Infection. The hole in the tongue that results from tongue piercing is an open wound and prone to infection. And there are lots of bacteria in the mouth that can get into that open wound. If your tongue becomes infected, it will swell and possibly block the airway. Swelling can also cause much pain, making simple functions such as eating and talking a challenge. Unfortunately, practicing good oral hygiene is not enough to stave off possible infection.
- Nerve Damage. Tongue piercings can cause nerve damage, which may result in chronic pain. It also could cause a lingering tingling. Or it may cause you to have no feeling in the tongue whatsoever. This nerve damage can cause difficulty in chewing and swallowing. It also dulls the taste buds. And with nerve damage to the tongue you may bite your tongue often and not be able to discern when your tongue is infected.
- Chipped or Cracked Teeth. People with tongue piercings will often hit their metal studs against their teeth. It’s normally something they can’t control – it just naturally happens while talking or eating. This constant rubbing between the tongue jewelry and the teeth can damage the teeth. The stud can chip the teeth or even crack them. This will cause extreme sensitivity because the nerves are exposed. In the end, extensive treatment may be necessary to repair the damage.
- Receding Gums. Gums can become inflamed and irritated due to tongue jewelry scraping up against them. This constant inflammation can cause the gums to recede, which in turn leads to increased sensitivity and pain.
- Periodontitis. This is a gum infection that eats away at the soft tissue and bone around the teeth, and could result in tooth loss.
All in all, your family dentist warns that tongue piercing is a trend that you want to avoid, as you may pay later with your oral health and overall well-being.
Of course, we are always concerned about your well-being here, and encourage you to practice optimal oral hygiene and see your family dentist for regular check-ups twice a year. And if you live in the Columbus or Reynoldsburg areas, we’re eager to get to know you. Want to get to know us? Check us out on Facebook.