Oral piercings and grills are considered forms of body art and self-expression. They may look cool, but they can cause a lot of damage to your mouth.
Oral piercings are invasive procedures with possible negative health consequences.
The jewelry used in oral piercings can come in various styles – like rings, barbells, and studs.
No research shows that people are physiologically dependent on getting piercings, but many people continue to see how far they can push their limits once they start calling them.
The American Dental Association (ADA) advises against cosmetic oral piercing and tongue splitting.
Tooth and gum damage is among oral piercings’ most common dental problems. Oral piercings can irritate the gum tissue and cause damage to teeth in the form of cracks, chips, scratches, and tooth sensitivity.
Dental grills can cause abrasion to teeth, gum recession, tooth discoloration, or chipped teeth.
Ill-fitting grills can place excessive pressure on the teeth resulting in damage to the jaw and dislocation of the teeth. Low-quality materials can also wear away tooth enamel and lead to severe infections.
If you’ve had any cosmetic dental procedures done, including colored fillings or crowns, oral piercings can also damage these.
Complications Associated with Oral Piercings And Grills
Oral piercings and grills can lead to various oral and systemic complications. Some of these oral and systemic complications include:
- Chipped or damaged teeth. Tooth damage was seen in 26% of individuals with tongue piercings
- Gingival injury or gum recession. Gingival recessions were identified in up to 50% of individuals with lip piercing and 44% of those with tongue piercing
- Lacerations and scarring
- Swallowing or aspiration of jewelry
- Hypersalivation (increased salivary flow)
- Palatal erythema
- Lip and tongue piercings can harbor periodontopathogenic bacteria
- Gum piercings may interfere with healthy speech and swallowing
- Keloid formation (scar tissue)
- Purulent (pus) discharge from the piercing
- Potentially severe infections, such as Ludwig’s angina or infective endocarditis. Infective endocarditis is an inflammation of the heart valves. Infectious bacterial agents or pathogens cause it.
- There is considerable potential for plaque accumulation on tooth gems, dental grills, and other oral jewelry, which can increase the risk of periodontal infection over time (mainly when oral hygiene practices are insufficient).
Long-term Aftercare For Oral Piercings And Grills
Aftercare is paramount for maintaining a healthy mouth after receiving a mouth piercing. Practice good oral hygiene with particular attention paid to your jewelry and piercing.
It’s essential to incorporate thorough oral hygiene procedures, including flossing and brushing with an antimicrobial toothpaste.
It is critical to remove your jewelry whenever you are eating or sleeping. Remove your jewelry if you play any sports or are involved in any other physical activities.
Tongue piercings take between six and eight weeks to heal completely. However, your healing process depends entirely on how you care for your new piercing.
Schaefer Dental Group – Comprehensive Cosmetic Dental Services In Lansing, MI To Restore Damaged Teeth And Smiles
At Schaefer Dental Group, we advise our patients not to put pieces of metal in their oral cavity. However, we appreciate that some people do not feel this way, and they have the right to do so. If a piercing is placed in your oral cavity, extra care should be taken with your oral health. You should schedule regular appointments at our Lansing dental practice so that we can monitor any issues that might arise. Should you be unfortunate enough to experience tooth damage from a piercing or grill, we have a range of cosmetic dental treatment procedures to help.
If you have extensive cavities or gum disease, a dentist in Lansing will want to address those conditions first. Once your teeth and gum are healthy again, you can decide which cosmetic treatments you want to explore. Cosmetic dental treatment procedures available at our dental office in Lansing include:
- Teeth Whitening
- Dental bonding
- Dental implants
- Porcelain Veneers
- Dental Crowns
- Invisalign clear aligners
- Inlays and onlays
- Dental bridges
- Dental braces
- Dentures
- Gum contouring
- Composite fillings
- Gingival graft
- Enamel shaping
- Teeth contouring
- Gum reshaping
- Composite dental bonding, and
- Gum lifts
With the proper care, your tongue piercings or grills can be safe and carry little risk. However, if you experience any complications, such as swelling that doesn’t subside or more than minor bleeding, contact our dental clinic in Lansing, MI.
Schaefer Dental Group prides itself on providing excellent cosmetic dental care to patients in Lansing, MI.
If you’d like to schedule an appointment or have any queries, call us immediately.
