Oral piercing has become a popular fashion trend and form of expression nowadays, and while there’s nothing wrong with it, it’s something that your dentists in Scottsdale, AZ would advise you against doing. From an oral health standpoint, oral piercing is bad because it poses several risks, which we will explain below.
Kinds of Oral Piercings
Before we dive into the risks, let’s look at the three types of oral piercings first. This way, you will know what they are and how they differ from each other.
Tongue Piercing
Tongue piercings range from single to multiple posts vertically (venom or angel bites), single post horizontally (snake-eyes), or under the tongue/web (frenulum). Many consider piercing a single hole in the middle of your tongue as the safest method. There’s also a multitude of jewelry choices that offers various distinct looks.
Lips Piercing
Lip piercings can be in any area of the lips. It features unique styles like the vampire, smile, or frown piercings that hang between the gums and lip inside the mouth.
Other Oral Piercings
Aside from the tongue and lip area, piercings in the cheeks, gums, and even the uvula (the flesh hanging at the back of your throat) are also detrimental to your oral health.
The Danger of Oral Piercings
After the initial piercing, you will generally feel some swelling and soreness in the area for about 2 ½ months. Aside from that, here are some risks associated with oral piercings:
- Infection
- Migration or rejection of jewelry
- Allergy to metals
- Scarring
- Abscess
- Damage to teeth
Face Piercings and Your Oral Health
Most oral piercings lead to swelling, redness, tenderness, bleeding, and scabbing in the pierced area. It becomes quite difficult and painful to clean the pierced area, which sometimes results in infection.
If they are poorly placed, piercings can also chip or damage your teeth. Sometimes the damage to the tooth can be so extensive that it will require tooth extraction and replacement. Other risks with oral piercing include a higher chance of trauma, like yanking or tearing, in the event of accidents and injuries.
In general, oral piercing poses numerous risks to your oral health. If you still want to get an oral piercing, here are some oral health tips you can follow:
- Brush your teeth two times daily using a toothbrush with soft bristles to reduce bacteria build-up in your mouth.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products as they can irritate swollen tissues.
- Avoid taking foods and beverages that can irritate your pierced area, like spicy and salty foods, bubble gum, and alcohol.
- Make sure to watch your hands before you handle any oral jewelry to lower the chance of infection.
- Let your external piercing heal fully before getting in a swimming pool or hot tub to prevent bacteria from entering your bloodstream.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Dentists in Scottsdale, AZ
It would be best to consult your dentist first if you are planning to get a piercing around the mouth, teeth, or gums so you can learn more about the associated risks and how you can reduce them. Contact Serenity Smiles today at (480) 400-5000 to book an appointment with our dentist.
