An earring in the tongue or in the lip can get in trouble. It turns out that over 70 percent of people who have piercings - lip or tongue piercings sooner or later go to the dentist with damaged teeth. Therefore, before deciding on such a procedure, it is worth knowing what complications and side effects on the part of teeth may be associated with lip or tongue piercing.

Earring in the languageorlip earringare intended to be an ornament, and often cause problems with he alth. In the oral cavity, piercings appear most frequently in the area of ​​the tongue, with the lips being the second most frequent location. This type of jewelry is the least common on the cheeks. Interestingly, the tongue piercing is chosen a bit more often by men than by ladies. Piercings in the lips or in the tongue are in contact with the teeth and may have a negative effect on them.

How does an earring in a lip or a tongue affect teeth?

Earrings should be treated as foreign bodies and their presence in the oral cavity may be associated with tooth complications. The most common complications related to the presence of a lip or tongue piercing include tooth injuries. The lower and upper incisors, which are closest to the metal ornament, are particularly vulnerable to them. The earrings are made of metal, which is a relatively hard material. As a result of biting the earring or hitting a tooth with an ornament, it may break or chip a fragment of hard tissues.

Injuries often occur while eating, sleeping or playing (biting) on ​​an earring. The most common breakage is a fragment of the enamel, i.e. the surface layer protecting the inside of the tooth. Breakage may be accompanied by pain of varying intensity. Depending on the size of the broken fragment, it may be necessary to polish the edges of the damaged area or fill it. It may happen that a tooth fracture runs deep and damages the pulp. In such a situation, endodontic treatment or, in extreme cases, extraction of a damaged tooth may be necessary. Continuous contact of a metal object with the teeth over time causes gradual destruction of the enamel. Over time, cavities are formed in the tooth surface. They take the form of initially shallow, trough-shaped depressionslocated at the contact point of the earring with the teeth. The gaps in the enamel deepen over time, reaching the dentin. Losses resulting from the contact of teeth with a foreign body are called abrasive ones and are classified as diseases of the hard tissues of teeth of non-carious origin. The occurrence of this type of complication requires replacing the missing tissues and securing the exposed dentin with filling material.

Another symptom that may appear due to jewelry on the tongue or lips is tooth sensitivity. It appears in response to thermal stimuli. Usually, the occurrence of unpleasant sensations is provoked by eating cold food.

Piercing tongue and lip: possible complications

Apart from the negative effects related strictly to the teeth, wearing piercings on the tongue or lips may be associated with the occurrence of other alarming symptoms. It is worth noting that if disturbing symptoms occur, go to a doctor or dentist who will provide appropriate help and explain the problem.

Piercing lips or tongue is associated with tissue damage, the continuity of small blood vessels is broken. Often times, people who have had their tongues pierced often complain of recurring bleeding. These symptoms appear up to 12 hours after the procedure.

Vessel disruption can also cause blood to accumulate in the tissues and form a hematoma. Due to the rich blood supply to the tongue, it is after its piercing that complications related to blood extravasation appear most often. Additionally, tissue damage may provoke pain and slight swelling. These symptoms usually disappear after about 2 days.

The mouth is full of all kinds of bacteria. As a result of breaking the continuity of tissues, the wound site becomes an easy point for microbes to enter the body. This can be caused by local inflammation. In exceptional circumstances, the course of an infection may lead to general or even life-threatening symptoms. In the event of disturbing symptoms, see a doctor or dentist as soon as possible, who will take appropriate treatment.

It is also worth mentioning about other infectious diseases related to non-compliance with the rules of asepsis and antisepsis. Piercing salons are more and more specialized and try to provide services at a high level. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering about the possibility of infection with HIV or viral hepatitis.

Another symptom that may occur after having your tongue pierced is taste disturbance. They are usually of a temporary nature and disappear after a period of about oneof the week.

The piercing of the tongue or the lip causes injuries not only to the teeth, but in many cases is responsible for the damage to the soft tissues of the oral cavity. The most common damage to the tissues surrounding the tooth is. It manifests itself in a reduction in the level of the gums with the exposed necks of the teeth, i.e. the formation of a recession. Their extent varies from small gingival tissue defects to large gingival atrophy revealing a large part of the root surface.

Other negative effects of wearing this type of intraoral jewelry are bedsores and wounds of the mucosa. These injuries are manifested by the formation of small, painful defects in the mucosa. They usually appear on the floor of the mouth or on the tongue, near the earring.

Earrings are made of metal alloys, which may contain elements such as chromium or nickel. Both of these metals are common causes of allergies. Nickel allergy affects approximately 15% of the adult population. Symptoms of oral allergies vary, often itching and burning. They may be accompanied by swelling and redness of the oral mucosa.

Finally, it is worth noting that a foreign body in the mouth, such as an earring, is an excellent place for the development of bacteria and plaque, so you should strictly follow the rules of oral hygiene. You should also remember to clean our jewelry. In order to avoid tooth injuries, you can consider removing the earring in situations such as eating, sleeping or doing sports.

Worth knowing

Piercing, or piercing, is a form of decorating the body through the use of piercing, into which various types of earrings are then placed. Body piercing has been around since ancient times and has been more or less popular over the centuries. Special needles are used for piercing and they should be sterilized before each procedure. The piercing procedure itself takes a very short time and an earring is immediately inserted into the resulting hole. There are many reasons for putting on earrings. Most often these are cosmetic reasons. People wear earrings because they find it aesthetic and attractive. Other motivating factors for piercing different areas of the body are the desire to express yourself, celebrate an important event, or belong to a narrow social or religious group.