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Is tongue piercing harmful?
I have a teenage son who had his tongue pierced several months ago. Being a past dental assistant I was very concerned about oral hygiene, tongue nerve endings, taste buds and possible choking or breaking of other teeth when he had this procedure done. Can you give me any concrete evidence that tongue piercing has been a problem or is detrimental in some way? I don't know if any information will change his mind, but perhaps it will open his eyes to what could possibly happen.
There are concrete, scientific studies that have been conducted to ascertain if tongue piercing causes dental complications. While all people are different and will respond differently to the 'wounding' caused by tongue piercing, there are things to consider before piercing the tongue. First and foremost: are the instruments used to pierce the tongue, lips, or cheek clean and sterile? Secondly, the tongue has many blood vessels and is heavily supplied with sensitive nerve endings; therefore, the piercing can cause quite a bit of bleeding and pain.
Any time jewellery is inserted through the oral soft tissues, infection is a real concern. If the metal is not pure, allergic reactions may also occur. The barbell end of the jewellery pierced through the tongue, lip, or cheek can be removed but it is usually worn permanently. This can lead to chipped teeth, difficulty eating, and difficulty speaking clearly. It is not uncommon for the tongue to swell up for several days after the piercing procedure. One report described a case where the swelling partially blocked the patient's trachea (windpipe) and caused serious difficulty breathing!
If your son does decide to have his tongue pierced, ask him to be sure that it is done at a sterile, reputable, safe establishment. It will also be important for him to maintain excellent hygiene. He should brush his tongue, irrigate the hole with a small stream of water and keep the jewellery meticulously clean.
Some people use an ultrasonic cleaner on the ring or barbell jewellery after it is removed from their mouth. If a standard jewellery cleaner is used (not recommended), the jewellery should be very well rinsed before being placed back in the mouth. Many jewellery cleaners are toxic and must not be swallowed! They can also cause severe irritation to oral tissues.
For additional information on this topic, please see the July 1997 issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association, page 1017, and the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Vol. 32, 1994, pages 37-38.
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