Tongue, lip, or cheek piercing is one of the trends in body piercing practices today. People with new tongue, lip, or cheek piercings or those planning to have this kind of beautification must be aware of the impact of this beautification on their oral health. Most workers, including those in a dental practice in Wichita Falls, assert that one has to be cautious of possible effects on the teeth and the gums. Ignorance can however land you into serious trouble while at the same time enjoying your piercing as far as your oral health is concerned.
Can You Get a Dental Injury from Oral Piercings?
Oral piercings are risky since they might lead to damage to your teeth, gums, and the soft tissues present in your mouth. Here the chances of chipping or cracking the teeth are high since the piercings are made of metal.
This mostly applies to mouth and tongue piercings, the reason being that they might come face to face with the teeth as one carries out his or her day-to-day activities such as eating or speaking. Further, safe contact with the piercing repeatedly may harass the gum causing possible gum relapse, this leads to exposure of the tooth root and therefore it is prone to cavities.
What are the implications of Oral Piercings on Oral Health?
With oral piercings, it may be difficult to practice proper oral hygiene as seen in the following points. It becomes possible that the remains of the food as well as the bacteria will be trapped by the jewelry hence increasing the chances of carrying infection, bad breath, and plaque.
Also, it is impossible not to note that the presence of piercings in the mouth leads to the appearance of new plates for the accumulation of bacteria. Some of these complications include infection, inflammation of the fistula, keloid formation, migration of jewelry, and various periodontal problems such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and yeast infection, among others.
Maintenance of proper cleaning at the site of the piercing together with proper oral hygiene and monitoring among other things can help to prevent these complications.
Is It Possible for Oral Piercings to Complicate Dental Operations?
Among the difficulties that may be associated with oral piercing, there are those that may come along with normal dental procedures. For instance, dental X-rays or some dental treatment may be affected by any metal accessory on the face, which means that the person has to remove the piercing.
Other problems associated with oral piercings may also occur to patients as the constant touching of the oral piercing on crowns or even filling may cause the patient some problems. Before having an oral piercing or before having any dental treatment done, it is recommended to consult the dentist first to avoid the latter.
Does having an oral piercing affect the way one speaks and eats?
Oral piercings may also affect the individual’s speech and chewing capability if, for instance, the tongue is pierced. This is due to the fact that jewelry in the mouth hinders the movement of the tongue, for example, one will barely slur while speaking or stammer slightly.
Some people also may have a problem chewing and swallowing food, a view that can be attributed to the fact that the piercing may hinder the normal movement of the tongue. Sometimes, these effects can diminish with time as the body gets used to the new change that is the piercing, but it is crucial to know that these changes can interfere with routine activities.
Is There Anything as Financial Implication of Oral Piercings?
In addition to the cost of having a piercing, oral piercings will cost the individual other dental expenses in case of some complications. Minor problems such as chipping of teeth or having a cracked tooth may end up needing fillings or crowning which may prove very expensive.
In more severe cases where the effects of the jewelry have led to gum recession, additional therapy would have to be employed like surgery. Also, one may contract an infection or any other ailment related to the mouth due to piercing and this comes with additional medical or dental bills.
There are some things that one has to avoid in order to control the effects of the above costs, including taking care of the piercing as well as maintaining proper dental health.
Conclusion
A person with oral piercings has a higher inclination to undergo dental injuries and also his/her dental hygienist may be potentially hampered or impaired as well as complicate dental processes. These are important to bear in mind to avoid further unnecessary dental expenses as well as harm to your teeth and gums.
If proper oral hygiene is observed and consultations with your dentist are made on a regular basis, you can safely get the piercing done without affecting your teeth. Being aware of the short-term and long-term costs will assist in determining whether or not to get oral piercings and how to take care of them.
