Beware of the Dangers of Tongue Piercings

Posted on 3/27/2016 by Allan Hablutzel

A young woman with a stud in her tongue.

Is your teen begging to get her tongue pierced? You may be reluctant to agree simply because of the aesthetic issues, but there are actually a lot of oral health dangers associated with tongue piercings. These are just a few:

•	Infection. The tongue is a hotbed of bacterial activity, and when it is pierced, those bacteria can get into the blood stream and tongue tissues. This may result in a serious infection, and symptoms include pain, redness, and swelling.
•	Broken teeth. It is extremely common for people to have completely healthy teeth only to start suffering breaks as soon as they get their tongue pierced. It is easy to chip a tooth on a tongue piercing while talking, eating, or chewing. Depending on the severity of the break, a filling, root canal, crown, or even an extraction may be required.
•	Gum disease. People who pierce their tongues are at a heightened risk for developing gum disease, as the jewelry can rub up against the gums and cause them to recede.
•	Numbness. It is entirely possible to suffer a loss of sensation or numbness at the site of the piercing, and movement problems may result if nerves are damaged during the actual piercing.
•	Allergic reactions. Depending on the type of metal used in the jewelry, you could develop an allergic reaction. This is especially true if the piercing isn't made out of surgical stainless steel of a high quality.
•	Increased risk of oral cancer. It is thought that tongue piercings could increase the risk of oral cancer, as the irritation they cause to the mouth could cause ulcers to develop. Those ulcers could potentially lead to oral cancer in the future.

The end result is that before agreeing to allow your child pierce her tongue, you need to fully understand the pros and cons. Speak to your teen and weigh the risks before signing off on a piercing.

Please contact us if you have any questions about tongue piercings.

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