Oral piercings are considered fashionable and trendy, but if you are considering lip, check, tongue, or uvula, yes, uvula, piercings, talk to your dentist as there are some health risks that you should be aware of.
According to the American Dental Association, Oral Piercing can cause infection, prolonged bleeding, pain and swelling, gum disease and chipped or cracked teeth. Oral piercing can also be blamed for blood borne diseases and a condition known as Endocarditis.
Because your mouth contains millions of bacteria, it is susceptible to infection if you have your tongue, cheek, or lip pierced. The tool used for the piercing can infect you or the jewelry itself if you or the person who pierced your lip, cheek, tongue, or uvula did not sanitize his or her hands properly.
Excessive bleeding can occur if the person who is using the needle for the piercing accidentally hits a blood vessel. Even qualified piercers can make a mistake, and if a blood vessel is hit it can cause bleeding that is difficult to control, which could lead to serious blood loss.
Your dentist will tell you that pain and swelling are normal when it comes to oral piercings, but there have been cases where the tongue has swelled up so much that it blocked the passageways making breathing nearly impossible.
Like most people, you and your kids probably have dental restorations, but if your fillings, crowns, or caps are exposed to barbells, studs or rings that are placed in the mouth you could be asking for trouble. Once the jewelry hits those restorations, it could cause damage. Oral jewelry can also cause chips and cracks to healthy teeth.
Metal mouth jewelry can cause serious problems to your soft gum tissue. If this occurs, gums may start to recede. Once gum recession sets in it is very difficult to stop. Recessed gums leave the roots of your teeth exposed making them more vulnerable to tooth decay and gingivitis. Receded gums can also lead to tooth loss.
Mouth jewelry can make you drool excessively and can affect the way you eat and speak. If you cannot pronounce words properly, it may affect how you act in a social situation, and how other people perceive you.
Other more serious issues to consider if you are thinking about oral piercings include the possibility of transmitting infectious diseases such as Herpes Simplex and Hepatitis B, C, D and G. One of the most serious complications that can occur from oral piercing is known as Endocarditis. Endocarditis is an inflammation that occurs in the valves of the heart or the heart itself. This can happen if bacteria enter the bloodstream.
If you would like more information regarding oral piercing, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can help better explains the possible side effects.