Piercings in the mouth have one huge risk factor that other piercings do not not have: bacteria! The mouth has all sorts of nasty things in it, and introducing a foreign object into it (that may not have been clean to begin with!) can only lead to problems down the road. If an infection develops it can lead into the bloodstream, causing inflammation of the heart and brain. The tongue can also bleed excessively and could also swell up after a piercing, causing breathing issues. Aside from these more rare occurrences, common problems resulting from oral piercings are:
- buildup of scar tissue if it’s removed
- gum disease: the jewelry can come into contact with gum tissue causing injury as well as a recession of the gum tissue, which can lead to loose teeth and tooth loss.
- Teeth that come into contact with mouth jewelry can chip or crack.
- Tongue piercing can result in difficulty chewing and swallowing food and speaking clearly. This is because the jewelry stimulates an excessive production of saliva. Temporary or permanent drooling is another consequence of increased saliva production. Taste can also be altered. (WebMD)
- risk of choking if the jewellry malfunctions
Keep your teeth looking healthy and beautiful by keeping foreign objects out of your mouth! Why hide your bling inside your mouth anyway?
