The Dangers of Oral Piercings

What are oral piercings?

Oral piercings refer to any piercings that are done on the tongue, lips, or cheeks.

Here are some possible dangers oral piercings may pose to your health:

1. Infection - Our mouths can be easily infected due to the handling of jewelry after an oral piercing.

2. Prolonged bleeding - If by any chance a blood vessel is punctured during the process of a piercing, more effort and time is required to control blood loss.

3. Pain and swelling - common symptoms of pain and swelling vary among people, where in extreme cases the swelling of the tongue may impact breathing.

4. Chipped or cracked teeth - Teeth with restorations, such as crowns, can be easily damaged by jewelry in the mouth.

5. Injury to the gums - Metal jewelry is especially harmful to your gums, injuring the tissue and causing your gums to recede.

6. Interference with normal oral function - Having jewelry in the mouth can be troublesome as it can interfere with normal speaking and cause excessive saliva flow.

7. Blood-borne diseases - There is a risk of the transmission of diseases such as Hepatitis B, C, D and G through oral piercings.

8. Endocarditis - Endocarditis is an inflammation of the heart valves or tissues. Oral piercings increases the risks for bacteria to travel through the bloodstream to the heart.

If you are experiencing any pain or see visible swelling in the mouth, please be sure to contact us as soon as possible.