Oral piercings or other mouth modifications are a form of self-expression, but at the same time, they can jeopardize your mouth health if they aren’t performed with delicate care by the hand of an experienced piercer. The main reason why so many things can go wrong with a mouth piercing is because your mouth is home to millions of bacteria which can enter the bloodstream after the piercing. Similarly, if your tongue has an allergic reaction, it can make it difficult to breath.
There are other potential issues as well. For example, you could crack or damage a tooth if you bite down on the jewelry or if it repeatedly strikes one surface of your teeth. Also, you need to make sure a trusted piercing shop is performing the piercing to reduce the risk of machine-transferred bacteria or diseases. Other poor reactions people have had to mouth piercings include:
- Significant pain.
- Damage to gums, teeth or previous dental work.
- Disrupted speech or chewing.
- Hypersensitivity to metals.
- Nerve damage to your tongue.
- Increased saliva production.
- Issues with dental X-rays if the jewelry can’t be removed.
Getting A Mouth or Tongue Piercing
Now, we’re not saying that you shouldn’t get a piercing if it’s what you want, we only ask that you do it as safely as possible and practice some good dental hygiene tips, which include:
- Only have the piercing performed by a trusted professional piercer who has performed many successful mouth piercings in the past.
- Let the piercer know if you have any known allergies.
- Contact your dentist or physician – not the piercer – if you notice any signs of infection near the piercing site (redness, swelling, fever, chills, pain).
- Keep the piercing site clean and free of food particles by rinsing your mouth after meals.
- Avoid striking your jewelry against your teeth. Some people report that they knock their jewelry against their teeth as a nervous or absent-minded habit, but this can damage your teeth.
- Check your jewelry tightness with clean hands at regular intervals to avoid it becoming dislodged and accidently swallowing it.
- Remove the jewelry during exercise or athletic activity.
- Visit your dentist on a regular basis, and ask them for any advice on how to best manage the piercing site and your overall mouth health.
Bloomington Dental Clinic
Know what you’re getting into before getting mouthwork done, because it will require a lifetime of maintenance if you want to protect your teeth. We’ve served a number of patients with mouth and tongue piercings, and we can give you advice and ensure your oral health stays optimal as you adjust to the new jewelry. If you have any questions or want some advice, reach out to Dr. Brooks’ office today.