Every dentist office has a story regarding this
latest craze, wearing jewelry in the mouth.
Few teenagers realize that the mouth is swimming with bacteria and after a tongue piercing infections usually set in with a great deal of discomfort and swelling. I have had experiences with many broken teeth due to the different pieces of metal hitting on the walls of the teeth which occurs whenever the tongue moves, as when talking, chewing or eating, as well as infections on the tongue and lips. Piercing creates an open wound, a breeding ground for bacteria that no antiseptic mouthwash can control.
Further if the swelling, infection and pain were not enough sometimes the piercing needle can damage nerve endings with concomitant
nerve damage or can cut through a blood vessel with severe bleeding that could be difficult to control. A severely swollen tongue can close the airway and healing can take up to a month or more. Jewelry worn in the mouth can interfere with speech and eating.
Back to Dental Fitness
