Lip and Tongue Piercings
Lip and tongue piercings, or oral piercings, are typically small holes where people can attach jewelry to stand out from the rest of the crowd. These piercings can be placed intraorally, within the mouth, or perioral, around the mouth. While it is a way to express uniqueness or personality, these piercings also carry a huge risk.
The mouth has a lot of active bacteria as the microbiota thrives. A piercing exposes the person to a higher risk of infection, especially if they don’t know how to properly take care of their piercings. A swollen tongue will make it hard to swallow food and breathe properly. An inflamed lip piercing will also make it difficult to chew and is quite unsightly. Moreover, they can lead to bleeding gums and other mouth tissues. More bacteria will increase the chance of developing infections that can affect other organs, too.
The jewelry can also break, which can cause damage to the gums and teeth. An improperly placed piercing can cause infections on the teeth and gums and dislodge fillings. These things can cause several problems that may have long-lasting effects.
If having an oral piercing is unavoidable, ensure that the individual has enough knowledge about proper care and maintenance to prevent complications.
