A General Dentist Discusses the Hazards of Oral Piercings

general dentist Paramus, NJ

According to general dentists, oral piercings can actually be hazardous to your health. Your personal style is how you portray yourself, and you may have considered oral piercings as part of this. However, you may not realize that these piercings can harm your gums and mouth. This also includes your teeth.

Problems with tongue and lip rings

While no piercing is completely safe, oral piercings are especially dangerous. Patients can have an allergic reaction or have the area become infected. There are several problems that oral piercings can cause for individuals, which can include:

  • Fidgeting damage: it can be difficult to resist playing with the oral piercing in the mouth. This can cause the teeth to become cracked or chipped. Fillings can become damaged and the soft tissues can get injured
  • Nerve damage: if an oral piercing is in the tongue, it can damage the nerves there
  • Gum damage: when an oral piercing rubs against the gums, it can cause the tissue to wear away. This can cause the roots of the teeth to be exposed
  • Infections: a piercing can allow bacteria in the mouth to go into the bloodstream
  • Drooling: an object such as a piercing can stimulate the saliva glands and cause the individual to drool more
  • X-rays: because piercings show up as bright objects on X-rays, the piercings can obscure other parts of the mouth

Problems with oral piercings and braces

For patients with braces, oral piercings can pose a problem. A piercing can easily become tangled with the orthodontic appliance, damaging the braces. This can also cause injuries around the piercing area. General dentists recommend that patients wait until after braces before choosing an oral piercing.

The right way to care for an oral piercing

An oral piercing can cause damage to the mouth and the teeth. However, for patients who decide to go ahead with the piercing, it is important to properly care for it. One of the most important parts of caring for an oral piercing is proper oral hygiene.

Patients should clean the piercing area after each meal, snack or beverage. This can prevent food particles from getting trapped in the area. Patients should also remove the piercing before physical activity, which will reduce the risk of any injuries or damage. To prevent the piercing from damaging the teeth, patients should resist the urge to play with the piercing in the mouth. This can cause cracked teeth.

If a patient notices signs of infection, then it is important to go to the general dentist immediately. Signs of infection can include pain, swelling, redness, fever or chills.

Visit a general dentist today

While getting an oral piercing may not be the ideal situation, caring for the piercing properly can help to minimize damage. Good oral hygiene is a must for anyone with an oral piercing. This includes proper cleaning after each meal or snack. If you are thinking about getting an oral piercing, you should make an appointment with a general dentist to discuss your options.

Get more information here: https://paramusdentalarts.com or call Paramus Dental Arts at (201) 845-5533

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

Paramus Dental Arts
5.0
Based on 95 reviews
powered by Google
Neveen ElgawlyNeveen Elgawly
21:51 15 Sep 22
They have a great team, price is very reasonable and excellent customer service. My first time there and it won’t be my last. I highly recommend the place for anyone who is looking for a professional dental practice.
Hady SayedHady Sayed
04:55 22 Jul 22
Super friendly, courteous, & helpful staff. Dr. Olga herself is a fountain of knowledge who's really clear and easy to talk to.
Amy BalrajAmy Balraj
22:53 18 Jul 22
I recently moved to the area and the only reason I keep coming here is because of Dr.Philip. She is extremely personable and gentle. She doesn’t force you to do anything and you’re welcome to ask as many questions as you need. I never wait long and the rest of the staff is extremely friendly. Definitely come to Paramus Dental Arts
Melisa LjekocevicMelisa Ljekocevic
17:17 04 May 22
Such a clean facility! Dr. Anju was amazing, such a pleasant teeth cleaning. Wanda was also so nice, very helpful and informative. Overall, amazing experience. Booked my next appointment already. Definitely recommend.Great atmosphere!
Carlos HernandezCarlos Hernandez
19:24 07 Mar 22
I absolutely love this place. Today was my first time coming here and the experience was nothing but pleasant. The two ladies at the front desk were super friendly and had great personalities. The dental hygienist and the doctor were super professional and friendly and got done everything I needed to get done and guided me on how to get myself to where I want. I will be coming back and this place deserves more then 5 stars! Thank you!
js_loader