man-with-lip-piercing-smiling-1600x522.webp man-with-lip-piercing-smiling-1600x522.webp man-with-lip-piercing-smiling-1600x522.webp

Mouth piercings and your oral health

Tongue rings, lip rings, or other oral piercings can be a unique way to showcase your personal style. But if you have an oral piercing or you’re just considering one, it’s important to know that they can also cause long-lasting damage to your teeth and gums. 

97.6% of those with an oral piercing experience complications such as pain, swelling, and cuts to their mouth.1

Oral piercings create oral health risk

Improperly placed or cared for oral piercings aren’t just uncomfortable, they can create serious oral health risks you should watch for. These include:

  • checkmark

    Speech and saliva issues: An oversized, poorly placed, or uncomfortable piercing can make your talking tricky or cause you to drool. 

  • checkmark

    Infection and inflammation: The mouth is full of bacteria, so even minor cuts or scrapes caused by piercings can swell, bleed, or become infected. Signs of infection include pain, pus, chills, and fever.

  • checkmark
    Tooth damage: Over time, metal jewelry rubbing against the inside of your mouth can cause lasting damage to your gum tissue or tooth enamel (the protective outer layer of your teeth). Biting down on tongue or lip rings can chip, crack, or even break your teeth. 
  • checkmark
    Allergic reactions: A reaction to metals like nickel can cause redness, itching, swelling, and even difficulty breathing in some people.

Protect yourself from piercing problems

Don’t let your facial fashion harm your teeth and gums! If you have an oral piercing, keep it clean and protect your oral health by:

  • checkmark
    Consulting your dentist for help creating a care plan.
  • checkmark

    Cleaning it after each meal. Ask your dentist if you should use an antiseptic mouthwash, which reduces a wider range of bacteria than an antibacterial mouthwash.

  • checkmark

    Gently brushing your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush, avoiding direct contact with the jewelry.

  • checkmark
    Wearing plastic oral piercings instead of metal, especially for tongue piercings.
  • checkmark
    Once the piercing is healed — removing, cleaning, and inspecting your jewelry and replacing it regularly.
  • checkmark

    Seeking medical help if you notice sudden changes, severe pain or swelling, a bad smell, or fever.

A healthy smile is always chic 

Oral piercings can look cool, but they’re not risk-free. Before you get one, make sure you know what you’re getting into — and how to take care of your mouth if you go through with it. 

1Mosaddad, S. A.; Talebi, S.; Hemmat, M.; Karimi, M.; Jahangirnia, A.; Alam, M.; Abbasi, K.; Yazadaniyan, M.; Hussain, A.; Tebyaniyan, H.; Abdollahi Namanloo, R. Oral Complications Associated with the Piercing of Oral and Perioral Tissues and the Corresponding Degree of Awareness among Public and Professionals: A Systematic Review. (2023, November 2) from https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/21/3371

Go back to articles