Lip And Tongue Piercings: Consider Your Oral Health

25 / 05 / 2018

Lip And Tongue Piercings: Consider Your Oral Health

Why You Should Think Carefully Before Having Facial Piercings In This Area

Facial piercings are now commonplace, especially, though not exclusively, among younger people.

Some argue that even if they are just a ‘trend’, they can be removed easily, unlike tattoos which are more permanent. Although this is true; having your tongue or lips pierced can have an effect on some aspects of your oral health.

Our Ipswich dentists have put together a list of some of the potential problems that mouth piercings can create, from an oral health perspective.

Infections

Our mouths are full of bacteria. In fact, there are more bacteria in our mouths than the population of the whole world! Whilst not all of these are bad, it does mean that where you have a piercing, there is an increased risk of infection, especially if you do not take care to keep it clean. In addition to this, any food that gets trapped around the piercing will accumulate bacteria and may cause swellings and other problems.

Speech defects

Although not strictly an oral health issue, there is little doubt that some piercings, and perhaps especially one in the tongue, may cause some aspects of speech to change.

Chipped teeth

Perhaps the most damaging problem caused by oral piercings is that of chipped or broken teeth. It is inevitable that your piercing will come into contact with your teeth, either when eating or speaking, and there is every chance that this will cause at least some minor damage eventually. Whilst chipped and cracked teeth can be restored using techniques such as bonding and dental veneers at the Lighthouse Dental Practice, it is better to avoid this problem in the first place. Piercings may also irritate the gums, causing inflammation and other issues.

Poor cleaning

Especially if the area around your piercing has become infected, there is a good chance that you will clean your teeth less well for fear of aggravating the problem. Although this may be more comfortable for you, not cleaning your teeth properly may eventually lead to decay or gum disease.

Uneven tooth wear

Depending on the location of your piercing, you may subconsciously start to put more strain on certain teeth when you chew in order to avoid contact with the piercing. This ‘unbalanced’ bite may cause your teeth to wear down and may even cause breakages over a period of time.

Although it is a personal choice, we would advise patients of the Lighthouse Dental Practice to think carefully before having an oral piercing. However, if you have a piercing already and have any concerns about how it may be affecting your teeth and gums, please arrange to see one of our Ipswich dental team by making an appointment on 01473 257379.

We are here to help you.
If you would like to speak to a member of our friendly team about any of the issues in this article please visit our contact page or call us on 01473 257379.