Dental FAQs > Dental FAQs Category > Tongue Piercing – Is it Really Cool?
You might not be surprised anymore to see people with pierced tongues, lips or cheeks. You may, however, be surprised to know just how dangerous these piercings can be.
There are many risks involved with oral piercings; including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, the risk of choking, or blood poisoning. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Your tongue could swell large enough to close off your airway!
Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva and injuries to gum tissue. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle. So follow the advice of the American Dental Association and give your mouth a break- skip the mouth jewelry!
Last updated on June 7, 2010 by Children's Dental Care