The last decade (or two) has seemed to provide an ever increasing number of mostly young people, who are trying to show their individuality or express their personality through body piercing. Mouth piercings in particular seem to be the most dangerous or have more potential risks than some others. I was aware of the lip, tongue and cheek piercings, but was just recently enlightened to the uvula piercing that some people choose. Despite the many reasons that people choose to pierce, I want to share some of the health/dental reasons to reconsider.
There are many potential risks to think about when considering a "mouth" piercing including; infection (sometimes serious enough leading to death), injury to the teeth and gums, damage to fillings, nerve damage, excessive blood loss during or after receiving a piercing, scar tissue, excessive drooling and saliva production as well as possible speech and chewing issues.
Because the mouth is a moist dark area, it is the ideal breeding ground for bacteria. This can cause serious infection of the piercing site and can include painful swelling, possibly to the point of closing off airways.
Sometimes bacteria from the piercing can lead to a potentially life threatening circumstance, such as inflammation involving the valves of the heart and heart tissue called endocarditis. Anyone with a heart condition (known or unknown) is at risk for this infection and death can result as a worst case scenario.
Another serious risk of mouth piercings in particular is the possibility of nerve damage. This damage is caused when a nerve is nicked or pierced causing problems that can be temporary or permanent. Many reports of loss of the sense of taste and a general "bad" taste have been noted. Some people also develop a hypersensitivity to the metal jewelry they use in these piercings and have a metallic taste in the mouth. When the nerves of the mouth are damaged it is also possible to have issues with speech and mouth movement.
Your teeth and gums also run the risk of being damaged with mouth piercings. According to a dental journal study as reported on WEBmd, "47% of people wearing barbell tongue jewelry for 4 or more years had at least one chipped tooth". These jewelry pieces worn through the lower lip can also cause your gum tissue to recede or disappear. Barbell wearers are especially susceptible to developing gum disease, which is an infection of the gums that leads to bone loss around the tooth and eventually tooth loss if left untreated. Use nylon jewelry if possible to prevent wear on the teeth and gums.
Another very serious result from piercings is the possibility of contracting blood borne diseases from unsterilized equipment. These types of infections can include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B & C, Herpes Simplex Virus and HIV.
If you are considering getting a piercing(s) please make sure that you thoroughly research the facility and person doing your piercings and be aware of the potential risks.
