919-682-5327 What is an oral piercing? An oral piercing refers to any hole placed in the tongue, lips or cheek for the purposes of ornamentation. Over the years, these have become a form of fashion which is stylish in some social circles. If you are considering such a piercing, however, you should know the whole story of how it may impact your oral health.
-Infection: Jewelry can carry with it foreign bacteria. This can be especially risky if you have a tongue piercing, but any oral piercing can increase your risk of an infection in or around the mouth.
-Excessive bleeding: If any of your blood vessels are perforated during the piercing, you may experience prolonged bleeding and blood loss.
-Pain and Swelling: These are common side effects of oral piercings – much more so than an ear piercing. In extreme cases where your tongue swells up, you risk closing your breathing airways.
-Injury to Teeth and Gums: If your tongue maintains regular contact with your teeth, your chances of suffering a chip or crack are increased. You may also find that your jewelry injures your soft gum tissue, causing your gums to recede.
-Interference with oral functions: Jewelry can result in excessive salivation, which may affect how you speak, chew and swallow.
We at Fleming Dental definitely do not want to hinder your free will and self-expression, but considering the risks of oral piercings, we courteously advise you to find another way to convey your personality. Should you decide to move forward with the piercing, please know that you can always contact Dr. Alex Fleming and the rest of our staff at Fleming Dental at the first sign of any oral problem. We are located in Durham, North Carolina and our phone number is 919-682-5327. We’d be thrilled to see you!