Ask Mike Allen – Oral Piercings

A patient wishes to know if there are any health risks from oral piercings.

Piercings of the lip and tongue are not uncommon these days, especially in younger people. They are not without risks though and oral health problems can occur.

Q. I have been thinking about having my tongue pierced. One of my friends has done this and it looks great. I was concerned about the pain but she said it didn’t hurt much. My mum though, thinks that it could damage my teeth, which are in really good condition so I don’t want to risk that. Are there risks, or is my mum just being overprotective?

Thank you for your question. The simple answer is that oral piercings, whether of the lip or tongue can have an impact on your teeth. The most obvious example of this is when the teeth come into contact with the piercing, especially if it is a significant size or weight. Chipped teeth are certainly far from unusual in patients who have oral piercings. This is even more likely if you are the type of person who is likely to ‘play’ with your piercing, tapping your teeth with it for example.

Even if you are not likely to do that, the very fact that the tongue moves around in the mouth when eating or talking means that the teeth and piercing are likely to come into contact a number of times. It should also be remembered that the mouth is thought to harbour over a billion bacteria, some of which are potentially harmful. Inserting a piercing into the area, especially the tongue, increases the risk of infection. Even without a piercing, it is extremely important to keep your mouth clean and healthy, but with one, it becomes even more so.

My personal advice would be not to risk it, but if you do decide to go ahead, please make sure to minimise any risks by brushing and flossing well, and, of course, keeping regular appointments with Mike Allen Dental in Burton. In the event that you do suffer any damage to a tooth, presuming that you do go ahead, always make sure to take prompt action and come to see us straight away. A damaged tooth will not repair itself and its strength is likely to be compromised, possibly leading to more extensive damage.

Whether you decide to have the piercing or not is, ultimately, your choice. However, why not wait until after your next dental check-up with us so that we can ensure that your mouth, teeth and gums are all in good order before you proceed?

To arrange an appointment at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice, please call us on 01283 845345.