|
|
-
Oral Health
Oral Piercing
-
Oral piercing involving the tongue, lips or cheeks has become a popular practice. Many side effects, ranging from discomfort to serious health hazards, can result from these procedures. Anyone thinking about oral piercing should consider where the benefits outweigh the risks.
Oral piercing is usually done without anesthetic. In tongue piercing, a needle is used to insert a barbell-shaped piece of jewelry through the middle of the tongue. At first a temporary, oversized piece of jewelry is used to accommodate swelling. After several weeks, a barbell is inserted into the hole and a ball is screwed onto the stem. If no complications develop, healing takes about 4-6 weeks.
In lip or cheek piercing, a cork is held inside the mouth to support the tissue as it's pierced with a needle. The needle is then replaced with a stud or hoop. Healing time ranges from weeks to months.
Risks of oral piercing:
Serious infections, such as hepatitis B and HIV, can be transmitted during oral piercings if the instruments have not been properly sterilized. There are other risks.
● Pain and bleeding from injury to major blood vessels and nerve endings
● Infection
● Dental problems from chipped or broken teeth and eroded gum tissue due to jewelry
● Heart problems revealed in Mayo Clinic studies
● Injury due to swallowed or inhaled jewelry that has become loose
|
