All You Need to Know About Oral Piercings.
Oral piercing is the aesthetic piercing of the oral cavity for the insertion of objects such as rings, studs, or pins where both ends of the jewelry are limited to the oral cavity. This type of piercing is also known as intraoral piercing. A hole is made with the use of a needle in order to accommodate the wearing of a decorative object. Piercings in the mouth and around the mouth, including the nose, eyebrows, and cheeks, are sometimes included. Piercings that are considered to be perioral are those in which one end of the jewelry is placed intraorally while the other end of the jewelry is inserted through the skin of the cheekbones, upper/lower lip, or chin.
There are two different piercings that can be done on the tongue: a dorsoventral piercing and a dorsolateral piercing. The dorsoventral tongue piercing is considered to be the most common and safest type, as it avoids the majority of major blood veins and is, therefore, the most popular choice. The piercing is done in the middle of the tongue, directly in front of the lingual frenum, and the jewelry is typically worn in such a way that there is a sphere on both the dorsal and the ventral surfaces of the tongue.
Risks of Infection
Your oral cavity is home to bacteria. It is possible for a piercing to get infected if bacteria are allowed to enter it. The time period immediately following obtaining the piercing, before the hole has healed, places you at the greatest risk of contracting an infection. Putting other objects in your mouth, touching the jewelry with your bare hands, and using tobacco products are all behaviors that can raise your risk of infection. The piece of jewelry can break off in your mouth, causing you to cut or damage the soft tissue on the inside of your cheeks, tongue, or neck. In addition, the metal from the piercing can cause you to chip your teeth while you are eating, talking, or sleeping. The majority of the time, they are minor concerns, but there is always the risk that they could become far more serious.
Discomfort and Tissue Irritation
Oral and other types of piercings cause tissue irritation in the vast majority of cases. If there is no infection present that can prolong the period of inflammation, this typically lasts anywhere from three to four days. Furthermore, Oral piercings can come with the unpleasant side effects of pain and edema. In severe circumstances, swelling may cause your airway to become blocked, making it difficult for you to breathe. Do not be reluctant to make an appointment with your dentist or primary care physician if you are suffering any discomfort or swelling.
Chipping or Breaking Teeth and/or Fillings
Having an oral piercing could lead to accidental biting down on the piercing and cause the chipping of teeth. Some even do it so often that it has become a habit that some of the patients we see don't even realize they're biting on it. This in turn leads to the chipping and weakening of their teeth, which would then cause other more serious issues, starting with sensitivity or worse, pain. Without addressing this root cause, any fillings placed in would invariably break again and will not last very long.
Health Risk
Oral piercings pose a significant threat to the health of individuals who already have cardiovascular diseases that put them at a moderate to high risk. Piercings create holes in the skin, which germs can use as a shortcut to enter the bloodstream and proceed directly to the heart. Piercings are risky because they can cause infection. It is possible for bacteria to colonize the heart valves, which then leads to inflammation of the heart. This inflammation can lead to serious sickness, and there is a possibility that it will permanently harm the heart. Local and systemic infections also pose a significant danger, which can expose the body to pathogens such as hepatitis B and C, herpes simplex viruses, and even HIV. These infections can occur everywhere in the body, from the skin to the bloodstream.
Our Tooth Heaven dentist can tell you more about oral piercings via the links below
Choose from the following options to find out more: