Oral Piercings

So You Want to Pierce Your Tongue?

• Oral piercing can cause pain, swelling, infection, drooling, taste loss, scarring, chipped teeth, and tooth loss
• Most dentists discourage it because of these risks
• To avoid infections such as HIV or hepatitis, ask the person performing the piercing about aftercare, cleanliness and anything that may concern you
• Is a fresh needle used for every piercing? Some may reuse needles to keep down the cost of the piercing
• Make sure they completely sterilize all needles and instruments in an autoclave, which uses extreme heat to sanitize instruments
• If they are not prepared to answer your questions, go somewhere else
• Also, make sure that they use the right kind of metal, such as surgical-grade stainless steel. Some people have allergic reactions to certain metals, which can lead to further complications

Chipped teeth

• Fractured teeth are a common problem for people with oral piercings
• People chip teeth on tongue piercings while eating, sleeping, talking and simply chewing on the jewelry
• The fracture can be confined to the enamel of your tooth or may go deep into your tooth, which may require a root canal or extraction

Possible infections

• It is not unusual for the tongue to swell after being punctured, but in some cases the tongue becomes infected and swells so much that it can cut off your breathing
• In rare cases, doctors may pass a breathing tube through a patient's nose until such an infection passes
• Your mouth has high levels of bacteria. When you puncture the oral cavity, these bacteria may find a way into your bloodstream
• Bacteria can also reach your heart and cause a variety of health problems

How do I maintain my piercing?

• Once your tongue has been pierced, it will take 3-4 weeks to heal
• Barring complications, you will be able to remove the jewelry for short periods of time without the hole closing
• You may want to remove the jewelry to protect your teeth every time you eat or sleep
• Some parlors sell plugs you can place in the hole, which should allow you to remove the jewelry for as long as necessary
• The piercer will place a larger, starter "barbell" in your tongue to give it enough room to heal when your tongue swells
• If you keep the piercing, get a smaller barbell after the swelling goes down, which will be less likely to get in the way of your teeth and more difficult for you to chew on

Keep it clean

• Use an antiseptic mouthwash after every meal and brush the jewelry the same as you would your teeth
• After the tongue has healed, take the piercing out every night and brush it as you would your teeth to remove any unseen plaque
• Consider removing the piercing before eating, sleeping or strenuous activity

Reprinted with permission from the Academy of General Dentistry

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