Can Mouth Jewelry Be Dangerous To Your Health?

Artistic Touch Dentistry wants you to be aware of anything that can negatively affect your health. You may not know this, but oral piercings or tongue splitting can actually be dangerous to your health. While these are usually fads among teens or young adults, the damage they can cause can be long lasting. How are they detrimental to your health though?

The American Dental Association explains that, “your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection and swelling often occur with mouth piercings. For instance, your mouth and tongue could swell so much that you close off your airway or you could possibly choke if part of the jewelry breaks off in your mouth. In some cases, you could crack a tooth if you bite down too hard on the piercing and repeated clicking of the jewelry against teeth can also cause damage. An infected oral piercing can also lead to more serious systemic infections, including hepatitis or endocarditis.”

Most people know what mouth piercings are, but even I have never heard of tongue splitting. Tongue splitting is type of body modification in which the tongue is cut centrally from its tip to as far back as the underside base, forking the end (Source: Wikipedia). I encourage you to not Google the term “tongue splitting” unless you’re fond of graphic images because there are certain things you can’t un-see. When your teenager is considering any of the above body modifications or piercings then make sure to educate them on the effects that can occur. If you need a dentist in Melbourne, Florida then give Artistic Touch Dentistry a call today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Maryam Brazdo.