Along with tattoos, oral piercing is becoming a
trendier popular form of self-expression but not without risk or complication.
The tongue is the most common site along with the lips, uvula, cheeks or a
combination of these sites being utilized. If you absolutely can’t live without
participating in this trend, be sure the procedure is performed by qualified
professionals who use disposable gloves, disposable or sterile instruments and sterilized
jewelry. For several days after the piercing, you can expect swelling, pain,
increased salivary flow and sometimes infection. There may be prolonged
bleeding from punctured blood vessels.
The healing period is usually 3-6 weeks before the
permanent device (hoops, studs, barbells) can be placed. During the healing
stage, avoid spicy foods, alcohol and smoking. Use antiseptic or warm salt
water mouth rinses; keep talking to a minimum for the first few days; and
refrain from French kissing and oral sex for at least 2 weeks to minimize
infection risk. Complications arising from oral piercing include chipped teeth, allergic reactions, change in the
way your food tastes from interfering with taste buds and problems with speech,
chewing and/or swallowing. After healing and to minimize complications, people
should remove their jewelry once a day for cleaning and irrigate the hole with
water. For those with tongue piercing, the tongue should be brushed every day. Proper care or removal should be
taken during strenuous, contact sports.
The tongue piercing which involves placing a
"barbell"-type stud through the tongue puts people at risk for
chipped teeth, recessed gums, and nerve damage, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). However,
most people don't realize that getting an oral piercing also places them at
risk for developing a fatal infection or, in some cases, a mini-tongue,
according to a report in the January/February 2006 issue of General Dentistry,
the AGD's clinical, peer-reviewed journal.
Unclean piercing equipment can cause other
infections, such as blood-born hepatitis. Also, if a patient is not instructed
to avoid touching the piercing, they might spread infections with their own
fingers. Piercings in the mouth have
some specific additional risks, according to the American Dental Association.
If you do experience continued discomfort or sense
that you are not healing please contact your dentist or physician and get it
checked out. As always, if my office can be of assistance do not hesitate
to contact us for an appointment.
Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
404-256-3620
www.rightsmilecenter.com
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