Oral piercings are a trend that is not the favorite of dentists across the world. This form of self-expression may seem much more temporary than others, like a tattoo, for example. However, you may be making more of a commitment than you realize when you choose to pierce your lip or tongue. Tooth damage and even tooth loss are sometimes seen as a result of these fashion statements. Given these facts, you may wish to think twice about expressing yourself with oral piercings.
Tooth Damage from Oral Jewelry
The Journal of the American Dental Association published a study that ostracized the constant contact between oral jewelry and gum tissue as a potential to cause serious damage to the gumline. Fractures, chips, and damaged tooth enamel are often seen from oral jewelry. Receding gums and nerve damage are also a common concern. and lead to the following unpleasant results. Dr. John K. Brooks is a University of Maryland Dental School associate professor, and he headed the research. Dr. Brooks says, “wearing oral piercing ornaments, even over relatively short periods, may result in significant deformities to gingival tissue (gums) that might not respond satisfactorily to surgery and, in fact, may lead to tooth loss.”
Periodontitis Prominent from Tongue and Lip Rings
The study focused on five young adult volunteers who had oral piercings. Three of the study’s participants showed signs of periodontitis (severe gum disease) a condition that can lead to tooth loss. With periodontitis, the gums and bone separate and form periodontal pockets that can become infected. One 19-year-old woman in the study presented with significant gum recession in only five months of wearing her oral jewelry. This begs the question, is it really worth it to have an oral piercing when the residual damage could befall you for years to come, long after the trend is over for you?
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