All You Need to Know About Oral Piercings
Getting your tongue, cheek, or lips pierced is considered acceptable body art today. As you must’ve noticed, oral piercings are commonly seen in young adults and adolescents and they prefer to get their tongues pierced. This article will brief you about the complications and risks involved in getting oral piercings and what dental considerations are recommended for people with oral piercings.
The Complications Involved in Oral Piercing
As it turns out, getting an oral piercing is not as easy as you might think it is, despite seeing so many boys and girls with at least one stud in their mouth. The procedure is risky and it entails several complications. Some of the major complications that most people experience after getting their tongue or lips pierced include swelling, infection, bleeding, damaged teeth, gingival recession, lacerations, and hypersalivation.
The American Dental Association (ADA) is strictly against all these cosmetic practices and considers all intraoral or perioral piercing as invasive procedures that can cause the complications mentioned below to a severe degree.
Tongue Splitting
People just tend to do extreme things with their body. One of those things is having their tongues split into two with the help of various available techniques. This is another invasive procedure with significant risk involved. If you dare to get your tongue severed into two, like a snake, you must be aware that it can cause oral infection, severe bleeding, lingual nerve damage, inflammation, and even more health-related complications.
The biggest risk of getting your tongue pierced or forked is the setting where these procedures are performed. This would include body-piercing parlors which are usually non-sterile.
Dental Considerations for People with Oral Piercing
It is very common for dentists in the US to treat patients with oral piercings, like hoops, rings, and studs. Once a person gets his or her tongue pierced, the chances of developing an infection increase because of the bacteria in the oral cavity.
Individuals with oral piercings are expected to experience swelling and pain during the first few days. That’s why using alcohol-free mouthwash is recommended to cleanse the oral cavity and the site of the oral piercing. Once the swelling wears off, you’ll have to replace the longer piercing with something shorter in size in order to minimize the risk of damaging or irritating oral tissues.
In order to keep oral infections at bay, individuals with oral piercings must administer a careful regimen to maintain oral hygiene. It must include brushing the teeth twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride and a toothbrush with soft bristles. Flossing the teeth and rinsing your mouth with a non-alcoholic mouthwash must continue even after the healing period.
The list of precautions that are advised to individuals with oral piercings is almost endless. You must not play with your piercing, you must keep the site of the piercing clean, and you must remove the stud or ring before participating in any sports activity. For more information that would help you get along with your oral piercing, contact Smile Brightly Dental today and find out how you can maintain a proper oral hygiene after getting your tongue or lip pierced. We can be reached at 586-573-7700. We hope to hear from you soon!