Is tongue piercing dangerous?
You might used to seeing people with pierced tongues, lips or cheeks, but you might be surprised to know just how dangerous such piercing can be. There are many risks involved with oral piercings, including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, blood poisoning, heart infections, brain abscess, nerve disorders (trigeminal neuralgia), receding gums or scar tissue. Our mouths contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Under some circumstances, damaged tissues on our tongues could swell large enough to close off our airways! Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva and injuries to gum tissue. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is damaged by the threading of a needle. Ask your children to follow the advice of the American Dental Association and give their mouths a break. Persuade your children to skip the mouth jewelry!
