Maybe you’ve thought about getting your tongue pierced, your you’ve had a barbell in your tongue for years already. But do you really know what the long-term consequences of having your tongue pierced are? Well keep reading if you want to find out!
Piercing your tongue is a surgical procedure, and with all surgical procedures there are many risks. The top three being infection, bleeding and swelling. The mouth is a pretty dirty place full of bacteria, so there’s a high risk that the huge hole you’re putting in your tongue will get infected. If it does, it will taste nasty in your mouth, and the infection can spread through your bloodstream straight to your heart and can cause infective endocarditis or other heart issues. Not cool. Also if the operator piercing your tongue decides to cut corners, and doesn’t have single-use sterile needles, then your risk getting Hepatitis or HIV. Not cool.
The tongue is red for a reason – it’s super vascular and full of blood vessels. So when you puncture it, there is typically tons of bleeding. Also, like with any injury, a piercing in your tongue can cause it to swell up really big. Since you use your tongue to talk and eat, those functions can be very difficult when you have a huge tongue. Also, it can get so big that it may be come difficult for you to breathe. Ludwig’s angina – a severe swelling underneath the tongue which can block your airway and be fatal – has been found to occur with tongue piercings. Really not cool.
If you’ve had a barbell in your tongue for a while now then you’re probably familiar with the initial side effects of the procedure. However, you may not realize the long-term damage you could be doing to your teeth and gums.
Studies show that piercings with shorter than 5/8” barbells tend to do more damage by fracturing teeth, than longer ones do. You’ve got a new toy inside your mouth, so of course you’re going to want to play with it. And the more you knock it against your teeth, the more likely you’re going to break off enamel pieces of your teeth. Then you’re going to have to go to the dentist and get crowns. If you fracture your tooth even deeper, you might need a root canal or you could even lose your tooth if it’s a huge piece of tooth missing. Super not cool.
Finally, a tongue piercing can cause permanent nerve damage, incessant drooling, taste loss and gum damage. Then you’re looking at possibly having a constant tingling feeling in your mouth, not being able to taste any food you eat, and maybe even needing special dental treatment specifically for your gums in addition to your regular check-up and cleaning. Beyond not cool.
So be sure to weigh the possible consequences of trying to be cool before you go and get that tongue piercing.
Remember, a healthy smile is always in style…and uber cool!