Oral Piercing

Reasons to think twice before piercing your tongue or lip

Tongue and lip piercing is becoming more and more common these days. Among the unpleasant results of tongue piercing are pain, post-placement swelling, prolonged bleeding, gum injury, permanent numbness, loss of taste, oral hygiene problems, and broken teeth. As if that weren't bad enough, piercings can spread Hepatitis A, B, C, and HIV. Body piercers are not medical practitioners and are not regulated by any health agency. While using the human body as a canvas for "art" is as old as time, this is one variety that needs to fade into the past.

If you do decide that you simply must have an oral piercing, here are some things you should know:

• Find a professional who is willing to answer all your questions. Be sure they are using fresh needles every time and sterilize their instruments using a steam autoclave.
• Be aware that broken teeth are a common problem. Sometimes breakage can involve the nerve of the tooth leading to root canals or tooth loss.
• It usually takes 3-4 weeks for piercings to heal. Watch for swelling which might indicate a developing infection.
• See the AGD Fact Sheet for more information.