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you are here: DentalPlans.com > Dental Health Articles > HealthnewsDigest.com > Oral Piercings Pose Potential Health Care Risks
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Updated: 7/9/2009 1:00:31 PM |
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) - ROANOKE, Va., -- Like clothing and hairstyles, oral piercings give teens and adults a way to express themselves. While trendy, this fashion statement poses a number of potential oral and overall health care risks. It's also important to note that oral piercings most commonly involve the tongue, and also the lips, cheeks, uvula or a combination of sites. Oral piercings have been implicated in a number of adverse oral and systemic conditions.
Known complications of oral piercings include:
-- Pain - People who have oral piercings cite pain as the first thing
they notice after the procedure.
-- Swelling - Piercing may cause swelling of the tongue. According to the
American Dental Association, in extreme cases, a severely swollen
tongue can actually close off the airway and restrict breathing.
-- Prolonged bleeding - A blood vessel punctured during piercing may
cause severe bleeding.
-- Damage to the sublingual salivary glands - An improperly placed tongue
piercing may damage the sublingual salivary glands (salivary glands
under the tongue), which produce five percent of saliva entering the
oral cavity.
-- Aspiration (choking) - Jewelry may become loose in the mouth, creating
a choking hazard.
-- Plaque buildup - Plaque may build up on piercings, requiring more
frequent cleanings.
-- Damage to the teeth and gums - Jewelry may come in contact with both
the teeth and gums, causing chipped or cracked teeth or gingival (gum)
recession.
-- Allergic reaction - Jewelry containing certain metals may cause an
allergic reaction.
-- Nerve damage - A piercing that penetrates a nerve may cause nerve
damage, leading to numbness or loss of sensation at the piercing site.
-- Infection - The wound from the piercing, coupled with bacteria in the
mouth, creates an increased risk of infection.
Also, make sure to follow any home-care instructions, including cleaning, provided by your dentist or piercing specialist. This may help prevent immediate, short-term or long-term complications. Your dentist can prescribe an antimicrobial rinse to help keep the pierced site and jewelry clean.
© 2009 HealthnewsDigest.com
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