Jewelry in the cheek, lip, or tongue area poses a number of considerable risks for your oral health, and you would be well advised to take these risks into consideration before committing to punching a hole in your face. Oral piercings, particularly the common “barbell” tongue piercing, can be highly aggravating to your mouth. Firstly, the hard metal of the ring or stud is sure to come into contact with your teeth and soft gum tissues. This can wear away at your enamel and gums. One study demonstrated that, after only four years of wearing a tongue stud, a full 47% of people have at least one chipped tooth.
At the same time, a piercing in your mouth is yet another place for your oral bacteria to hide. Both the jewelry and the hole that it is set into give microbes a lot of elusive areas to grow and thrive out of the reach of your brush. Since the hole, or wound, is created by the piercing, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause further health complications. Unless you’re ready to commit to a more intensive oral hygiene routine, you may want to consider a different location for your piercing.
If you or a family member is considering an oral piercing, come and see our Issaquah dentist for questions and concerns that you or anyone else might have.
