Throughout history, quite a few cultures have pierced their bodies for a variety of reasons, according to the Center for Young Women's Health. In some cases, people pierced different body parts to show their status in a group or to protect themselves from evil. Current piercing trends are done more for style or due to peer pressure. Any type of body piercing carries some risks and dangers, but some more than others. When you pierce your lip, you need to consider how it affects the teeth and gums.
Teeth
Any type of piercing of the mouth, including the lip, carries the risk of damaging the teeth, according to the Family Gentle Dental Care website. The constant rubbing of the metal from the lip ring and the tooth enamel can cause erosion and eventually permanently damage the tooth. When there is sudden impact, the lip ring can crack or chip your teeth.
Allergic Reactions
If there is any form of metal in the lip ring that you are allergic to, you are likely to suffer an allergic reaction. One of the most common metal allergies is nickel. You can wind up with swelling, redness and discharge at the site of the piercing.
Mucous Cyst
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center website, one of the risks of getting a lip ring is developing a mucous cyst. A mucous-filled sac can develop around the site of the piercing and eventually develop into a permanent lump on the inside of the lip.
Gingival Recession
Piercing the lip may cause gingival recession, claims the American Academy of Periodontology. This is when the gums recede from the teeth, exposing the roots of the teeth and making them more susceptible to periodontal disease and decay. Over time, this may result in tooth loss, according to an article on the Medical News Today website.
Tearing
The Mayo Clinic claims that another risk of having a lip piercing is the area around the lip ring accidentally ripping or tearing. This can lead to infection, the need to have stitches and scarring on the inside and outside of the mouth.
Ingestion
If the lip ring comes loose, you risk ingesting pieces of the jewelry. It can become a choking hazard, or if swallowed, it may injure your digestive tract.
Slow Healing
If you have certain medical conditions, the site of the piercing may be slow to heal, according to the Center for Young Women's Health. Avoid having your lip pierced if you have hemophilia, diabetes, a heart condition or an auto-immune disorder.
