Although body piercings are a popular form of self-expression, they can have some adverse health effects. Oral piercings such as tongue rings can be particularly dangerous because they consistently come into contact with bacteria and they are within close proximity to delicate structures inside the mouth.
Chipped Teeth
Habitual tongue ring biting, whether intentional or accidental, commonly causes damage to the teeth. According to research from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and Ohio State University College of Dentistry, 47 percent of young adults wearing tongue barbells for at least four years had chipped teeth. The incidence of tooth chipping increased in young adults wearing barbells with short stems.
Gum Recession
Researchers in the same study discovered that 35 percent of young adults who wore tongue rings for at least four years and 50 percent of young adults who wore long-stemmed barbells for at least two years experienced gum recession. The reason long-stemmed barbells are more likely to cause recession is because they have a greater ability to reach and rub across the gums.
Infection and Allergy
According to the Canadian Dental Association, many body piercers have no formal education on sterilization and appropriate infection control. This fact combined with the invasive nature of getting a tongue piercing puts clients at a higher risk of developing a bacterial infection or contracting diseases such as Hepatitis B, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and syphilis. Moreover, since metals that aren't gold, surgical steel and titanium are common allergens, clients with tongue rings are susceptible to experiencing adverse allergic reactions that may even include abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Prolonged Bleeding and Nerve Damage
Other potential risks of getting a tongue piercing by an inexperienced person are severe bleeding and nerve damage, says the American Dental Association ADA. Since body art studios aren't regulated by most states, the ADA recommends checking out a potential piercing studio carefully, looking for signs that the business is established and licensed with trained and experienced piercers as well as separate, clean and well lit piercing rooms. It also recommends looking for studios that use new gloves and fresh disposable needles and avoiding studios that use piercing guns.
Airway Obstruction
Tongue rings put wearers at increased risk for airway obstruction in two ways. First, infection of a tongue piercing can cause edema, or swelling, of the tongue, which can block or severely restrict the passage of air. Also, tongue jewelry has the potential to block the airway if it is accidentally aspirated.
References
- Canadian Dental Association: Tongue Piercing and Associated Tooth Fracture
- American Dental Association: Intraoral/Perioral Piercing and Tongue Splitting
- American Academy of Periodontology: Oral Health Risks of Tongue Piercing
- Dr. Steven J. Deneka: Piercing
- Health Services at Columbia University: Pros and Cons of Tongue Piercing
