Oral Piercing: How It Can Affect Your Dental Health

These days it’s not unusual for fashionable young people to include tongue piercing. If you’re thinking of getting in on the trend, there are some health issues you should consider first. Any time jewellery is inserted through the soft tissues of the mouth, there’s a risk of infection and allergic reaction. The barbell end of the jewellery can chip your teeth and make it harder to eat or speak clearly. You can expect pain and swelling for several days after a piercing. Piercing can also change the way you taste food by interfering with your taste buds.

If you do decide to have your tongue pierced, make sure it’s done at a sterile, safe and reputable establishment. People with oral piercing must take special care to regularly brush their tongue, irrigate the hole with water and keep jewellery meticulously clean. But be careful… many jewellery cleaners are toxic and must not be swallowed. Make sure you rinse well before you put jewellery back in your mouth.