Dental Health Risks

Oral Piercings

Oral piercings have been a form of self-expression throughout history. Today, they are becoming increasingly popular with teens and young adults. If you or a loved one is considering getting one, it is essential to understand their impact on oral health.

Most dental professionals disapprove of oral piercings. In fact, the American Dental Association strongly advises against the practice and views these as invasive procedures with negative health effects that outweigh any potential benefits.¹

There are two types of oral piercings:

• Intraoral piercing: Both ends of the jewelry are within the oral cavity, such as a tongue or gum piercing.
• Perioral piercing: One end of the jewelry is within the oral cavity. The other end penetrates the skin, such as a lip or cheek piercing.

Risks and concerns

There are a considerable number of negative effects that oral piercings can have on your mouth, both during the initial healing phase and ongoing after healing is complete.

• Pain and discomfort, especially during the healing phase
• Inflammation and infection
• Allergic reaction, especially from jewelry containing nickel
• Nerve damage
• Irritated or receding gums
• Plaque build-up leading to tooth decay and periodontal disease
• A cracked tooth or chipped tooth
• Damage to dental restorations such as fillings or crowns
• Tooth loss

What to do

At home

During the healing process: Oral piercings can take up to four weeks or longer to heal completely. To reduce the risk of infection after the procedure, continue a proper oral health routine. Consider these additional tips:

• Use a new, soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Brush at least two or three times per day to eliminate bacteria, plaque, and food particles from accumulating. Use care around the piercing site.

• Use alcohol-free mouthwash. Alcohol can have a burning effect and may irritate the piercing.
• Use warm salt water rinses after eating and drinking to aid in the healing process and soothe the pierced area.
• Continue to floss at least once a day, but be careful not to let the floss rub against the piercing site.
• Do not smoke, vape, or drink alcohol. These can increase the risk of infection.
• Avoid tongue-kissing and oral sex until your piercing is fully healed.

After your piercing has healed:

• Continue to follow a strict oral health routine.
• Do not play with your jewelry with your tongue or any other items, including tongue scrapers, if the piercing involves your tongue. The piercing hole may become widened, which can invite bacteria and infection.
• Continually monitor your mouth for signs of infection, including swelling, pain, or suspicious changes. If you do notice something out of the ordinary, do not consult your piercer. Consult your dentist.
• Always remove jewelry with your head facing down to avoid accidentally having the jewelry drop into your throat. If the small parts are inhaled, they can wind up in your lung, requiring surgical removal.
• If you play sports or engage in other contact activities, take out your jewelry before you begin. You should also consider wearing a mouthguard to protect your teeth and piercing site from injury.

At the dentist

• Oral piercings, especially those that cannot be removed, may impede your ability to get X-rays necessary for your dentist to conduct a complete examination.
• Your dentist or hygienist will ask you to remove any jewelry before conducting an exam and professional tooth cleaning. If jewelry is not removed, it can be more difficult to conduct a thorough exam and cleaning. The dentist may ask you to place your jewelry in an ultrasonic cleaner to remove any plaque or calculus.
• Tell your dentist or hygienist about any particular concerns you have, including areas of irritation, swelling, pain, or suspicious changes in your mouth.
• Always follow your dentist's directions.