Oral piercings
What are oral piercings?
Holes that are poked in the tongue, lips or cheek that hold any kind of jewellery are considered oral piercings. This can be rings, barbells or even studs. Oral piercings do are considered a risk especially tongue piercings, this is due to the effects it can have on your mouth such as:
- Infection
- chipped or cracked teeth
- gum damage
- nerve damage (resulting in loss of sensation in the tongue)
- interference with speaking and swallowing
- potential blockage of airways due to excessive swelling
- excessive drooling
- excessive bleeding from the accidental piercing of a blood vessel or artery
- ongoing pain (neuralgia)
- HIV or hepatitis from the use of non-sterile equipment
- internal damage which may be caused by accidentally swallowing loose jewellery
How long do Oral Piercings usually last?
If you practice good oral hygiene they can last for a lifetime. However if you start to notice any signs of any problem it would be best to visit a dental professional. However it is still possible to still get complication from your oral piercing However even if you have the best oral care, damage to teeth or ingestion of loose jewellery is still possible. Before getting a piercing, always go to a trained professional that uses sterile instruments. This way you’ll be less likely to get an infection or a disease.
To take the best case of your jewellery you should be staying away from habits such as smoking or chewing tobacco. Other habits that could lead to infections would be
- Playing with or rotating your jewellery.
- Chewing on your fingernails.
- Putting a pen or a pencil in your mouth.
- Placing the temple tips of your glasses in your mouth as you think pensively about the state of the world.
