Oral piercings have become largely famous among many age groups in recent years. Although they look trendy to many, oral piercings can be dangerous and cause multiple health conditions in the long run.
Complications of Oral Piercing
- Tooth Breakage: Certain piercings are located close to gum tissue and can hurt the root of your teeth. Over time, this can cause gums to recede. The nerve can get exposed if the piercing leads to cracking or breakage of your tooth.
- Infections: There is a lot of bacteria in the mouth. When you get piercings in your tongue, lip, or anywhere inside the mouth, there is a tremendous risk of infection. Conditions such as Endocarditis can occur because of bacteria from the mouth entering the bloodstream.
- Gingival Trauma: Lip piercings or piercings close to jaws and gums that come into constant contact with the gums cause scratching, rash, cuts, and wounds that lead to infections.
- Nickel Reaction: Many mouth piercings contain nickel and many people are unaware they are allergic to it until they have the piercing in their mouth.
- Swallowing of Piercings or Parts: People have accidentally swallowed parts of piercings, which can cause complications with obstruction or injuries to the intestines.
- Swelling: Extreme swelling can lead to blockage of airways and difficulty breathing — an emergency situation.
- Speech and Chewing Difficulties: If chewing and talking difficulty doesn’t reduce over time, you will use the wrong muscles for both functions, triggering other problems related to jaws and mouth.
If you have an oral piercing, it’s vital to maintain a regular oral hygiene routine that includes brushing and flossing, and checking your piercing to make sure it looks and feels normal.