Think Before You Pierce

Categories: General Dentist

The Dangers of Oral Piercing If you live in the Timonium area and are considering puncturing your lip or tongue, this post is for you. Please consider the following:

Infection
Your mouth is full of bacteria. Any opening in the tissue carries the risk of infection. The germs from your tongue and mouth can easily get into your bloodstream. Timonium dentists and doctors are continually treating severe infections caused by oral piercings. Oral infections can be a real problem, and should be a major consideration before getting an oral piercing.

Tooth Damage
It should come as no surprise that having a piece of metal bang around in your mouth can easily damage tooth enamel. Though tooth enamel is amazingly strong, once it’s chipped or cracked, it can only be restored with artificial material. Fortunately, Dr. Steven W. Haywood in Timonium offers many tooth restoration options such as crowns and fillings, but our advice is to avoid the problem if you can.

Prolonged Bleeding and Swelling
The blood vessels in the tongue are often damaged when the tongue is pierced, causing prolonged bleeding and possible build-up of scar tissue. In some acute cases, the tongue swells up enough to block the airway.

Gum Recession
A number of periodontal disease studies have shown that wearing oral jewelry is linked to periodontal disease which can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease can cause gum recession which exposes the root of your teeth, potentially causing hypersensitivity and pain. Again, our advice is to avoid the problem right from the start.

These are just a few of the dangers or oral piercings. Steve Haywood at Dr. Steven W. Haywood can give you more important information about the risks of oral piercings. If you already have degeneration, call 410-453-9399 to schedule a consultation.

Contact Dr. Steven W. Haywood:

410-453-9399

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

108 W Timonium Rd Ste 200
Timonium, Maryland
21093