Body piercing has become a popular form of
self-expression, especially for but not limited to young adults. Oral piercing
is becoming trendier but is not without risks and complications. The tongue is
the most common site with the lips, uvula (soft tissue hanging from the back of
the palate), cheeks and a combination of these sites also 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, warns 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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