Oral Piercings
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Oral piercings can be dangerous to your teen’s health.
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Piercings can interfere with speech, chewing or swallowing.
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Oral piercings can cause swelling and infections.
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It is possible for a piercing to cause your teen’s tongue to swell, potentially blocking their airway.
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Oral piercings can lead to serious infections, like hepatitis or endocarditis.
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It is possible to crack a tooth by biting down too hard on a piercing.
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Repeatedly clicking oral jewelry against teeth can damage the teeth.
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After a piercing, your teen may experience a numb tongue. This is caused by nerve damage that is usually temporary, but can sometimes be permanent.
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An injured nerve may affect your child’s sense of taste, or how they move their mouth.
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Piercings can cause damage blood vessels in the tongue, resulting in serious blood loss.
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Oral jewelry can cause dental appointment difficulties. The jewelry can block the dentist’s ability to take X-rays of the mouth and teeth.
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If you see any signs of infection in your child’s mouth, such as swelling, pain, fever, chills, shaking, or a red-streaked appearance around the site of the piercing, call your doctor.
