Oral Piercing and how it can Affect Your Mouth
From tattoos to hairstyles, today's teenagers and young adults are eager to express their individuality. But those who choose to make a fashion statement with an oral piercing may find themselves in their <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/1402324']);" href=http://www.exceptionaldentistrylv.com/>cosmetic dentist's office</a>, looking for help afterward.
An oral piercing is any piercing in your lip, tongue or cheek. As with pierced ears, the metal jewelry used in oral piercings comes in different styles, such as barbells, studs and rings. However, piercing your tongue, lips or cheek involves a much higher health risk than piercing your ears. Before you decide to move forward with an oral piercing, you should be aware of the potential side effects associated with mouth jewelry.
These risks and possible side effects include:
- Pain and swelling: These are the two most common outcomes of an oral piercing. While both generally subside within a few days to several weeks after the piercing, in severe cases, an extremely swollen tongue can actually obstruct your airway and impact your breathing.
- Infection: Our mouths house millions of bacteria, which can result in an infection after having your mouth pierced. Handling jewelry once it is in your mouth also increases your risk of infection.
- Prolonged bleeding: If the needle punctures a blood vessel during the piercing procedure, it can produce bleeding that is difficult to control and may lead to significant blood loss.
- Chipped or cracked teeth: Chipped and cracked teeth are becoming a more common side effect of mouth jewelry, especially with barbells. Contact between your teeth and metal jewelry can cause your teeth to become weak and fracture. If your teeth have restorations such as dental crowns or veneers, these can also become damaged when the jewelry bangs against them.
- Gum injury and recession: Metal mouth jewelry can not only injure soft gum tissue, it can also cause your gums to recede. Besides looking unattractive, gum recession can leave your teeth more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.
- Interference with normal oral function: Oral piercingscan cause excessive saliva flow, which can hinder your ability to speak clearly, pronounce words correctly, and can cause problems chewing and swallowing food.
- Blood-borne diseases: The <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/1402324']);" href=http://www.nih.gov/>National Institutes of Health (NIH)</a> warns that oral piercings have been identified as a possible factor in transmitting hepatitis B, C, D and G.
- Endocarditis: Mouth jewelry also carries a risk of endocarditis, an inflammation in your heart valves or tissues. This is because the wound created during oral piercing can allow oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream, where they can travel to the heart.
If you already have an oral piercing
If you do get an oral piercing, you should receive a thorough oral examination of your gums and teeth to identify problem areas. Taking precautions now will increase your chance of keeping your teeth healthy and intact throughout your lifetime. First and foremost, you must keep your jewelry clean. This involves brushing the jewelry after every meal, just as you would your own teeth.
Here are some other tips:
- Use antiseptic mouthwashes
- Remove jewelry at night and clean it under running water
- Remove jewelry when eating, sleeping or exercising
- Place a smaller barbell on your tongue to help minimize contact with your teeth and interference with chewing
As long as your mouth stays free from infection and your oral piercing does not interfere with your normal oral function, you can wear mouth jewelry safely. However, due to the risks involved even after the initial wound has healed, such as damage to your teeth and jewelry that may become loose and gets ingested, it is a good idea to avoid oral piercings entirely.
If you live in the Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin, Nevada areas, and would like more information on oral piercings or available dental procedures, please visit the Web site for <a rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/1402324']);" href=http://www.exceptionaldentistrylv.com/>Exceptional Dentistry</a>.
Questions and Answers
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