Oral piercings have become quite popular, including piercing the lip, tongue and cheek. Many people are unaware of the dental problems associated with oral piercings, the most common being the fractured teeth and infection.

Teeth may become chipped and fractured by mouth jewelry while talking, chewing and sleeping.  A fracture in a tooth may result in the tooth needing a filling, but if the fracture goes deep into the tooth, a root canal or extraction may be necessary.

Your tongue is covered with bacteria, findings show that oral infections are related to other infections in the body. When the tongue is pierced, the bacteria on the tongue can release into the bloodstream and travel to the heart. Click here to learn more about why it’s important to keep your tongue clean. We offer free tongue scrapers at your cleaning appointments!

If you are considering oral piercing, you should talk with your dentist first to make sure you are practicing good oral hygiene.