Body
piercing can cause unwanted consequences.
As with any new fashion trend, young people rush to try it, and
body piercing is no exception. But when young people pierce their
tongues and lips they are risking numerous dental problems.
Tongue piercing
involves punching a hole in the tongue and placing a decorative
metal stud in the hole. Due to the numerous nerve endings in the
tongue, piercing can often result in severe swelling and pain,
making eating and talking very difficult, not to mention that
a severely swollen tongue can block a person's airway.
Infection
is also real danger with tongue piercing. Allergic reactions may
occur if the stud is not pure metal. Blood poisoning and blood
clots are other potential concerns. And since the tongue is constantly
moving, healing from tongue piercing is slow, sometimes up to
a month.
Tongue and
lip piercing also affect teeth and gums. Teeth can become cracked
or chipped from the metal stud or barbell moving around inside
the mouth. Gum tissue may also be damaged by continuous contact
with the metal stud.
Extra dental
care needs to be taken with pierced tongues. When brushing your
teeth be sure to also brush your tongue. The barbell should be
removed daily and thoroughly cleaned, although not with jewelry
cleaner, warm water and soap will work fine. The hole in the tongue
should also be rinsed with a small stream of water.
