If you have a piercing on your lip, tongue, or cheek, you will need to take special care with your oral hygiene. Oral piercings entail a certain degree of additional risk for your teeth and gums.
One of the big problems with oral jewelry is that it is hard, and one misstep can be disastrous for your mouth. Biting down on a piece of metal has the potential to crack a tooth. A barbell-style tongue stud poses a particular risk in this regard. Half of people sporting such a tongue adornment will suffer at least one chipped tooth after only four years.
Even if you don’t bite down on your jewelry, it will often rub up against your teeth and gums, breaking down your enamel and cutting up your fragile tissues. Meanwhile, since it is offering yet another place for oral bacteria to hide and flourish, the damage it does is going to be subject to bacterial infections.
If you choose to wear oral jewelry, consider choosing pieces that will be minimally invasive. Further, be sure to remove your jewelry periodically for cleaning. Finally, never miss your regular appointments with our South Seattle dentist.