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Body adornments, including oral piercings, certainly look cool, but they may also negatively impact your health. If you’re considering getting your tongue, lip, or cheeks pierced, dentists will offer guidance on the possible complications. The following general guide details the effects piercings can have on your oral health. 

An Overview of Oral Piercings & Dental Health

The Dangers of Oral Piercings 

Introducing a foreign object into the tissue of the tongue, lip, or cheek, elevates the chances of putting your dental health in danger. Many dentists recommend steering clear of oral piercings altogether. 

dentistStill, if you’re sure you want a piercing, it’s best to know what to expect. Immediately after getting the piercing, you’ll likely experience tenderness, swelling, and bleeding at the piercing site. These issues will subside, but other long-term oral health problems will arise, including:

  • Bacterial Infection: If the piercing studio did not use proper sanitary measures, the area may become infected. The piercing might be hard to keep clean over the long term, making it vulnerable to infection. It may also get in the way of thorough brushing and flossing, potentially leading to infected teeth and gums. 
  • Broken Teeth: As you talk or chew, the metal of the jewelry can chip or crack a tooth, which could result in the need for dental work such as a root canal, dental implant or gum surgery.
  • Permanent Injury: Accidental tearing, yanking, or other trauma could leave you with lasting effects such as scars, holes that never close up, or even a permanent split in your tongue.

Due to the above possible risks and side effects of oral piercing, you may want to re-think your decision to get one.

 

For the attentive dental care you need, turn to Drs Emery & Scuro DMD PC in Rochester, NY. These experienced dentists offer comprehensive general and cosmetic dentistry in a comfortable, state-of-the-art facility. Call their dental office at (585) 247-7110 to schedule an appointment, or visit them online to learn more about the practice.

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