Although a tongue piercing or lip ring might appear like a terrific approach to show your uniqueness, these piercings can raise unexpected health issues. For example, repeatedly tapping your tongue and lip piercings against your teeth could weaken them. Weakened teeth are prone to decay and infections, so root canal therapy can be needed to rescue them from extraction.
To be sure you make a wise decision, consider the dangers and see Point Pleasant dental office before getting an oral piercing.
Risks Associated with Oral Piercings
Given the range of oral piercings now on offer, one should carefully examine how they might affect dental health. There are many germs in the mouth; hence, adding an oral piercing can help boost the count of these organisms. It might also change your speech, swallowing, and chewing behavior. Oral piercings carry certain hazards, including:
- Infection: Oral piercings raise the risk of infection by allowing germs to enter the bloodstream straightforwardly.
- Gum Damage: Periodontal disease can even result from continuous contact between the piercing and gum tissue, which is irritating and a recession-causing agent. For instance, gum recession on the rear of the lower front teeth is common following tongue piercings.
- Tooth Damage: Because the metal jewelry constantly contacts teeth, tongue piercings can unintentionally create chips, fractures, or cracks in teeth.
- Nerve Damage: Inappropriately positioned piercings can damage the nerves of tongues or lips, causing numbness or loss of sensation.
- Interference with Dental Work: Facial piercings can complicate dental treatments, including X-rays and cleanings, therefore impeding dental practitioners’ ability to deliver complete care.
Safety Measures to Protect Your Smile
Although you might like to express yourself with an oral piercing, there are several safety precautions to follow that could save your smile.
- Choose a Reputable Piercer: To reduce the danger of infection, investigate and select a licensed and skilled professional who strictly adheres to sterilization procedures.
- Proper Placement: See your dentist regarding the best location to acquire an oral piercing so that teeth, gums, or nerves are not harmed. Ask your piercer whether she uses dental-grade acrylic rather than metal.
- Oral Hygiene: Clean the piercing site after every meal. Use an alcohol-free mouthwash to help lower the bacterial count. Routinely floss and brush to stop plaque development.
- Regular Check-Ups: See your dentist often for evaluations. They can track your dental condition, offer advice on keeping your piercing in place, and spot early problems.
Piercings Can Damage Soft and Hard Oral Structures
Usually, piercings are metal or fashioned from another hard substance. Piercings in lips and tongue can come into touch with teeth. Teeth can be injured when they come into touch with harsh objects. For example, a tongue piercing pressed against your teeth might cause enamel loss and tooth breaking. Oral piercings scraping against the gums or the linings of the cheeks can irritate tissue and increase susceptibility to infection.
Dermal changes, together with lip, cheek, and tongue piercings, might expose the mouth to more germs than usual. Patients run the risk of developing persistent infections, perhaps fatal if piercings and the pierced site are not maintained clean. Since the mouth is a wet, warm environment, millions of bacteria already call it home, so a piercing is not essential.
Conclusion
Although oral piercings are a common means of self-expression, one should not ignore the great hazards involved. If you want to keep your oral piercing and now have one, prioritize frequent dentist visits and practice thorough oral cleanliness. This is the finest approach to reduce hazards and save your smile for many years.