Do You Have An Oral Piercing?
What to know about the increasingly popular trend.
Every generation has its fashion trends. Oftentimes, what’s new and exciting with the youngsters seems weird to older people. In other instances, fashion trends can be cyclical, and you might have more in common with the older generation than you think! Well, whatever your choices, we’re not here to disavow anyone of their style and preference. But, when it comes to oral piercings, we want our patients to understand the implications for oral health so that they can take better care of their mouths and teeth and perhaps even prevent avoidable damage!
Oral piercings involve any location on the tongue, lips, or cheeks. And, when getting a piercing of any kind, there’s always the possibility of injury and infection. (You are, after all, creating a wound.) The tongue is especially vulnerable since it contains sensitive nerves and veins. So, make sure you go to a professional piercer who is appropriately licensed and accredited. Never attempt to pierce anything by yourself at home. Additionally, feel free to ask them about the process and sterilization at their facility, and they should be more than happy to discuss their safety protocols.
After the piercing is complete, take care to keep the area clean and free of any food debris. Watch for signs of infection such as pain, redness, or swelling.
When healing is complete, the biggest risk associated with oral piercings is injury from having a hard object in your mouth. Accidentally biting down on the jewelry when eating or speaking can cause a chipped or cracked tooth. Similar damage may also occur from any traumatic blow to the mouth, as well as potential lacerations to soft tissue.
Finally, when getting a new piercing, it will take some time to adjust to the new sensation. And just like when any significant change in the mouth occurs, you might initially have trouble speaking normally. This difficulty will resolve with practice!
If you have any other questions or concerns about an oral piercing, please don’t hesitate to contact our office!
