Teens love to express their individuality through their appearance, which is why oral piercings are becoming increasingly popular with teens. But are tongue, lip or cheek piercing safe?
Teens love to find new ways to express their individuality, but some teen style trends are riskier than others.
There has been a recent surge in the number of teens getting tongue and other oral piercings. Teens may feel that these piercings look 'cool', however they also come with a number of dental health risks.
Cracking & Chipping
It's common for the tongue jewellery to bump against the teeth when talking or eating, which could lead to chipped enamel exposing the sensitive layers of the inner tooth.
Biting or playing with the piercing, (which is common), can injure gums and lead to cracked, scratched or sensitive teeth requiring treatment.
Tooth Movement
Jewellery pieces used for oral piercings are rarely removed due to fear of the piercing healing over. This means that the oral jewellery places constant pressure on the backs of teeth which can cause the teeth to become loose or even move.
Infections
It's important to remind teens that the mouth is a moist environment filled with bacteria. Infections at the site of oral piercings are very common.
Dental Appointment Difficulties
Oral jewellery can interfere with x-rays, showing the piercing as a white object and interfering with any visible diagnosis and making dental appointments generally more difficult.
If your teen has an oral piercing, it's a good idea to have them remove their oral jewellery before visiting the dentist.