Oral piercing threats dental health

Piercing could be a tribute to fashion or to ancient traditions. Nowadays piercing in oral area is the most popular among teenagers: about 43% of people with tongue piercing, 33% with lip piercing, and only 3% with cheek piercing.

However, those who make piercing in this area are not aware enough about hidden threat of such exotic adornment. Oral piercing could be a reason of various dental troubles.

According to the Oral Health Foundation, many people want to have oral piercing; however only a few realize the potential threat of this adornment in long-term period. Moreover, they added that oral piecing could result in cracked or chipped teeth. Some people even have a habit of biting their piercing which leads to long-lasting dental treatment.

They emphasizes that oral cavity is a place for many bacteria and is a perfect place for infection progression. In particular, when piercing has been just made, it is an open wound that needs constant care in order to prevent infecting. Otherwise, it could result in serious complications like sepsis. Reports says that if piercing has been made incorrectly, it can cause sever blood loss, tongue numbness and increase risk of HIV and Hepatitis B infection.

That is why the Oral Health Foundation informs people who want to make piercing of the tongue or lip about hidden thread associated with it.

It also adds that according to the latest research quite a lot of people already have oral piercing. “We recommend people with piercing to rinse their mouth with antiseptic mouthwash several times a day to avoid microorganism aggregation”. Moreover, the Oral Health Foundation advice not to play with piercing in lip or tongue and be very careful while eating, doing sport, even speaking to avoid its contact with teeth, since biting the piercing could lead to serious dental problems