Will a mouth piercing scratch or chip my teeth? Here is what you need to know about the effects of oral piercings. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria. Once you have a piercing in your mouth, you have breed the perfect place for bacteria to make a home. This creates a high risk for infection. Along with infection comes swelling. There is a possibility of extreme swelling to the point where it blocks off your airway. An infection can quickly become life threatening if not treated promptly. Some serious infections are hepatitis or endocarditis.
Having a tongue piercing poses a threat to the health of your teeth. Repeatedly playing with the piercing and clicking it against your teeth will crack your teeth and wear down the enamel of the tooth. Biting down on the piercing can immediately crack the enamel. This can potentially extend down to the nerves of the tooth and may require a root canal to fix. If your tooth does break or crack, see a dentist right away for tooth repair. A tooth that is cracked or broken is extremely sensitive and painful. The pressure created from your tongue piercing pressing up against the back of your teeth causes your teeth to loosen and move. This ruins your beautiful smile and all the hard work your braces did when you were younger. Additionally, an oral piercing increases the saliva production in your mouth, which leads to drooling.
It is not all doom, gloom, and drool; here are some ways to protect yourself against potential dangers of oral piercings.
- Choose a smaller piece of jewelry, so that it isn’t big and clunking up against your teeth.
- Use metal jewelry that conforms to surgical implant grades.
- Use balls made of polymer on your tongue barbell to reduce tooth damage.
- Don’t “play” with your piercings. This is the hardest suggestions, because it is so tempting and become a habit quickly.
- Keep your mouth as clean as possible by brushing twice a day and flossing every day.
Practicing good dental hygiene is always important especially when you have an oral piercing. It is extremely important not to get into bad habits with your tongue piercing. Preserve your dental health by taking good care of your piercing which should help protect your teeth. Theisen Dental will help with any dental problems caused by a piercing, so come in to see us to fix your smile and get rid of any associated pain!