Tongue Piercing and Teeth: According to a study published in the Journal of Periodontology, tongue piercings lead to an increased number of dental and mouth problems. Researchers studied 52 young adults with pierced tongues and discovered that extended wear of both long and short barbell tongue jewelry causes receding gums and chipped teeth.
Which Tongue Bars are Best for Your Teeth?
What’s more is that the study found that the type of damage caused by the tongue piercing varied according to length of the barbell stem. There are two types of lengths examined in this study:
- Short barbells – Frequency of chipped teeth was much greater in those who wore short-stemmed barbells; less than 5/8 of an inch; because it’s easier to position the barbell between your teeth.
- Long barbells – Researchers found that nearly 50% of those who wore long-stemmed barbells for at least two years had receding gums.
5 Ways Tongue Piercings Damage Your Mouth
Infection – A tongue piercing increases your risk for infection because your mouth carries a vast amount of bacteria. This leads to an increased chance of bacteria entering the bloodstream, which could be life threatening to people with underlying illnesses.
Nerve Damage – If the piercing damages the nerves, you may experience numbness or loss of sensation. This condition could become permanent or lead to more serious problems
Damage to Teeth – The number one potential health risk of having a tongue piercing is the damage to your teeth. Teeth that come into contact with your piercing can chip or crack.
Gum Disease – People with long-stem barbells have a greater risk of gums disease, because the jewelry comes into contact with gum tissues causing injury.
Allergic Reaction – Some people experience contact dermatitis; a hypersensitivity reaction to the metal in the jewelry, which may cause a rash or your tongue to swell.
Thinking about getting your tongue pierced?
Damage Repair for Your Teeth
If you’ve damaged your teeth or gums because of a tongue piercing, we can help! We offer dental services including gum disease treatment, tooth restoration (in one visit!), and tooth whitening. Call us today at (440) 888-5055 or send us an email at [email protected] to set up your appointment!