Is tongue piercing safe?
We do not recommend it. Infection is a common complication of oral piercing due to the high level of bacteria in the mouth. Many symptoms and complication have been reported: pain, swelling, infection and injuries to gum tissue. Swelling can be expected with tongue piercing and can lead to difficulty breathing, uncontrollable bleeding and nerve damage. The jewelry used in the piercing can also cause serious injury: chipped and cracked teeth, tissue damage, and if inhaled or ingested, surgery may be required.
No. There is always a risk of infection with any form of piercing. The risks to health are greater with mouth piercing because of the closeness of the airway. A swollen tongue can interfere with breathing, and infections underneath the tongue can spread rapidly. Severely infected piercings have been reported as causes of septicaemia and toxic shock syndrome. There is also a risk if piercing is carried out with less than rigorous hygiene. Equipment should be disposable wherever possible, and other equipment should be sterilised between clients using a piece of equipment known as an autoclave. Autoclaves can cost from around £1500 upwards, so it is possible that they are not in general use by piercers. If equipment is not sterile, infections such as HIV or hepatitis B or C infections could pass from client to client, or between client and piercer.
