Oral piercings may be a trend, but they are actually a dangerous one for the health of your mouth. Here are 7 ways an oral piercing can cause harm to oral health.
- Tooth Fracture: Because piercings can be constantly clicking against teeth, they can fracture them.
- Gum Disease: Those with oral piercings have an increased risk of gum disease because piercings can harm the gum tissue and cause it to recede, exposing tooth roots.
- Infection: The mouth is full of bacteria which can cause infections, especially in a piercing. These infections can spread to the rest of the body in the forms of endocarditis or hepatitis.
- Swelling: Swelling is a normal side effect of piercings, but in the mouth it can be harmful if the swelling blocks the airway.
- Choking: If a piece of the piercing breaks off in the mouth, it presents a choking hazard. If swallowed, it can create problems in the rest of the body.
- Nerve Damage: A piercing can cause the tongue to become permanently numb, affecting the sense of taste and the movement of the mouth.
- Prolonged Bleeding: When blood vessels in the tongue are damaged because of a piercing, it can lead to significant blood loss.