Interested in getting a cool looking tongue ring or oral piercing? You might want to give that a second thought. Here are 3 reasons why you should not get a tongue ring.
Tongue piercings can chip teeth, cause infections, and lead to gum recession that damages the bone holding your teeth. The risks are serious enough to think twice before getting one.
Chips teeth and Fillings
The tongue is a powerful muscle that can be controlled by you or sometimes you have no idea what it’s doing without you actively controlling it. (voluntary or involuntary.) Without a Dental assessment you might have no idea what issues your tongue is actually causing, so image adding something that destroys teeth as well. Tongue rings especially metallic ones combines with the power of your tongue taps and bangs teeth all day. This weekens your teeth and fillings resulting in chipping or fractures.
Infection
The tongue can trap a lot of bacteria and if not kept clean can lead to infection. If you have poor oral hygiene that can encourage bacteria growth. After getting a tongue ring you must follow all after care instructions to avoid issues. If oral hygiene has not been excellent in the past then new habits must form immediately to avoid bacteria overgrowth and infection.
Receded gums
This one might surprise you but tongue rings can cause gum recession. The trauma of the tongue ring hitting against the gums can wear the gums away. What’s even more concerning is once the gums go the bone that’s holding the teeth in place will follow. Your gums or fungus and bone are the foundation that holds your teeth in your mouth. If you lose the foundation you can lose teeth.
As a Dental Hygienist for over 20 years I urge you to really think before getting any oral piercing. If you unknowingly have a condition in your mouth like gum disease or cavities or a tongue trust you can speed up the damage just by having a tongue ring.
The Takeaway
- These are all serious things that can occur with tongue piercings. Before making a decision to get any oral piercing speak to your dentist and dental hygienist.
