All About Oral Piercings
Oral piercings are piercings of the lips, cheek, and tongue. They are a form of self-expression, similar to pierced ears, and usually, the piercing comes in a variety of styles, including studs, rings, and barbells, but piercings around these areas have bigger health risks, and you should know about that before you begin.
Some side effects include infection, since we have lots of bacteria, and that can infect the piercing. You should also not handle jewelry when placed in the mouth. There is also the fact that if a blood vessel is hit with a needle when pierced, ti can cause serious blood loss. Pain and swelling also happen with oral piercings, and in some cases, a swollen tongue could close off the airway too. Contact with oral jewelry within the mouth can also fracture teeth. If you have crowns and caps on them, they also can be damaged by jewelry. There is also the fact that gum injuries can happen since the jewelry can harm the tissue, leaving it vulnerable to gum disease and decay. It can also interfere with normal oral function, since the jewelry in the mouth may cause excessive saliva, causing issues with pronouncing words, or difficulty with swallowing. Blood born diseases and endocarditis are also two other conditions, especially if there is a chance that the oral bacteria is in the bloodstream.
So how long do these last? Well, it can be indefinite if it doesn’t interfere with regular function, but if you do have any problems, you should always look for them, and if you notice them, always talk to your dentist. You should have them check the area to find out any of the problems. Due to health risks involved, even after the wound is healed, if you notice that you have an issue with oral piercing,s you should take them out.
There is also the risk of the jewelry being digested. If that happened, it could create issues in the body, or even choking. If you are at risk for jewelry getting lost, I don’t suggest getting them.
The big thing to take away from this is that while they are pretty, while they can be a form of self-expression and look pretty, you’ll want to be careful with them. They can really harm the mouth, and if you’re not careful, it could potentially do damage to other parts of the body as well, including the heart.
If you know that you’re at risk for any dental conditions, such as periodontitis and the like, I don’t suggest getting an oral piercing. If you do, you should always see a piercer that is very good, that knows what they’re doing, and won’t’ hurt you, and you should always tell your dentist that if you’re going one, if there are any concerns or places where you should avoid in the event that you might irritate or harm the area in some way when the piercing is put in, or after too.
