Tongue Piercing Cool or NOT?
• The number of children with pierced tongues, lips or cheeks, are increasing. Unfortunately these procedures which are done so casually can be dangerous. There are many risks involved with oral piercings, including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, or blood poisoning, and infections. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Your tongue could swell large enough to close off your airway, if inflammation goes untreated. Possible sequelae of piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva, and injuries to gum tissue and tooth. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle. The oral cavity is highly vascular and densely innervated opening the doorway to several possible mishaps. Think twice !!!! Follow the advice of the American Dental Association and give your mouth a break skip the mouth jewelry.
