Piercings and Tongue Splitting
While it is true that people like to express their individuality through distinctive body art, the practices of tongue splitting and piercings in and around the mouth can cause serious complications.
In addition to the pain and swelling that occurs immediately after the piercing or splitting, there are other potential long-term effects. According to the American Dental Association, case studies have shown that there can be problems with salivary flow, with damage to the teeth, with receding gums, and with scar tissue formation.
Because the tongue has so many blood vessels and nerves, there can be issues with prolonged bleeding or difficulty in moving the tongue. Swelling of the tongue after piercing can actually block the airway and cause difficulty in breathing.
Tongue jewelry has fractured teeth, and scratches in the enamel from the jewelry can provide an opening for bacteria and decay. The jewelry also can cause issues with chewing and speaking. And finally, piercings have been linked to serious blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis, endocarditis, and cellulitis.
At Library Park Dental we encourage you to express your individuality in a wide variety of ways. Oral piercing and tongue splitting is not recommended. If you do have an oral piercing, make sure to come in for a check-up at least twice per year so that we can keep a close eye on your piercing site and the teeth surrounding it.