There are about four reasons why people decide to get their tongues pierced. The first one is that everyone else is doing it.
Second is that your parents will hate it. Third is that is seems "cool", and fourth is that you are a teenager or unique adult that feels self expression through piercings is what needs to happen.
However, there are seven reasons why you should not get your tongue pierced that relate to the health of your mouth!
1. Chipped or Broken Front Teeth
The majority of patients we see with tongue barbells wind up with chips, cracks or fractures in their front teeth. These have to be repaired with fillings or crowns.
And re-done repeatedly when those wear out - over and over for the rest of your life.
2. Gum Surgery
We've had to refer patients to periodontists for surgical correction of damage caused by rubbing tongue barbells.
3. It can go down the wrong way.
The barbell can come un-screwed and wind up in a lung. (If you're lucky it can be removed by passing a bronchoscope down your throat, avoiding chest surgery.) Here's a case.
Going down the other way isn't necessarily great, either. The ball end should pass through harmlessly if swallowed. However the long part would carry the risk of lodging or causing internal tears in the intestine.
4. Infection and possible death
The mouth is moist and full of bacteria, and the tongue has major blood vessels ideal for spreading infection to the brain and elsewhere. This can disfigure or kill you.
5. Losing blood - possibly lots of it.
The tongue contains large blood vessels, and you're in trouble if one of them is perforated. You could end up having to have the vessel closed surgically in hospital.
There is also the possibility of hitting a nerve, and damaging that. Imagine life with a tongue that doesn't work properly.
6. Lingering Pain
Tongue piercing has been associated with cases of neuralgia - severe, long-lasting nerve pain.
7. Hepatitis or HIV
Unsterile instruments are a great way to spread these and other infections. If you must do this, be sure to go to a reputable clinic and be very sure that they do things properly; autoclave sterilization and gloves.
What about Lip Piercing?
The lips aren't as vascular as the tongue, so there's probably less chance of major bleeding. But jewelry here is more likely to rub the gum tissue away from your tooth and necessitate gum surgery to avoid losing the tooth.
Gum surgery beats brain surgery, but do you really want either?
Speaking of Piercing Shops
It is best to use a well-qualified piercing technician who will do it right. If you are going to do it, a well-qualified operator who takes proper precautions is essential and will minimize the risks - but it won't eliminate them.
But although piercing technicians often aspire to provide medical attention to clients having complications, the reality is that patients having serious problems tend to go to a physician or dentist - or may not even realize there is a problem until the dentist find it.
Because they aren't health professionals, and don't treat (or always see) the results when things go wrong, piercing artists tend to underestimate the incidence of complications. They also have a financial stake in the piercing business - it's their livelihood, after all. So pick a good one - but take them with a grain of salt.
We are not out to demean piercing enthusiasts - any more than we dislike or disrespect smokers, cliff parachutists, or young people in general. The purpose of this page is simply to provide information, to assist people making informed decisions - and to encourage sensible precautions for those who choose to take the risks.
There are some pro-piercing websites out there that offer information about the dangers of mouth piercing so props to them. Being informed is a much better option than not.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry is a former dental assistant and has authored hundreds of articles relating to oral health and dentist in Bakersfield, CA. He has been a guest dental lecturer for over 15 years.
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