Oral Piercing – A Trendy Look: What Dentists Have to Say About This

What Are Oral Piercings?

They are types of body piercings directly placed in a location in the oral cavity. Oral and body piercings have existed for many years as forms of self-expression and aesthetic modifications. Over time, oral jewelry and tooth ornamentation stopped being so popular due to modernization. However, today, they are again gaining traction in the 21^st century. Today, more people are gravitating toward dental grills, gold crowns, and oral piercings.

Different Types of Oral Piercing

Oral piercings can be in any part of the mouth, as long as they are confined to the oral cavity. They mostly feature studs, rings, hoops, or rods with metal spheres at both ends. The types of oral piercings can also feature various metals, including the following:

1. Stainless steel
2. Gold
3. Titanium

Examples of tongue and lip piercings you can have are:

1. Tongue rings or tongue webbing – usually attached to the strip of tissue connecting your tongue to the floor of the mouth. The tissue is called the lingual frenulum.
2. Lip rings – encircle the edge of the lips.
3. Labrets – are typically worn around the labiodental groove, a natural indentation of the chin, right under the lips.
4. Upper tongue webbing – is similar to a tongue ring but is inserted right under the upper lip, through the upper frenulum, with a circular or curved barbell.
5. Snake bites – are pierced horizontally on two sides of the lower lip.
6. Angel bites – are pierced horizontally on the upper lip on both sides.

What Are the Health Risks Associated with Oral Piercing?

Although getting a piercing is an expression of self and a sense of beauty, it can compromise your oral health. Oral piercings can introduce many dental problems, including the following:

1. Pain, swelling, and infection – if you do not nurse your piercing wound well, it can harbor harmful bacteria.
2. Taste loss – particularly for tongue piercings.
3. Restricted breathing – if your tongue swells up too severely, it can restrict your airways, making breathing difficult.
4. Blood poisoning and blood clots – if the bleeding does not stop at your piercing site, it can cause blood-related problems.
5. Gingival recession – the rings and studs can rub against your gums, irritating them and causing the recession.
6. Tooth chips, cracks, and breaks – the studs and rings can cause accidents that may break your teeth’ enamels.
7. Allergic reactions – depending on the material of the ornament you get, you can have an allergic reaction to the metal.
8. Scaring and other skin conditions – sometimes, you need to be careful about developing skin conditions around your lips, cheeks, or chin due to a piercing. If you are likely to have keloids, prone to acne or other skin conditions, oral piercings may not be a good idea.

How Can You Take Care of Your Oral Piercing?

Even though there are several risks to oral piercing, your dentist in South West Edmonton can guide you on ways to care for your oral health while being mindful of the piercing. Be cautious about the high concentration of bacteria and other micro-organisms in your mouth. Some of the things we recommend at Ellerslie Dental Clinic for caring for your mouth after getting a piercing are:

1. Good hygiene – a clean mouth reduces bacterial infections. Food residues, acids, and saliva combine to form plaque, a substance that plays a significant role in dental infections. Brush your teeth and floss every day to maintain good oral hygiene.
2. Be gentle – even when brushing your teeth, be gentle when cleaning the pierced area. Any forceful brushing or abrasion can cause trauma or rip out the piercing, causing significant pain.
3. Choose your foods carefully – hard foods will be difficult to eat while healing from the piercing. Shift to soft foods until all the tenderness, pain, and swelling wears off. However, even after you have healed, choose foods wisely. Avoid foods that can get stuck under your studs or rings.
4. Choose a good-quality ornament – the material of your stud or ring will play a big role in how well your mouth heals. Ensure you are not allergic to any metal ornaments and piercings.