An increasing number of young people are sporting tongue, cheek, and lip piercings. What if your teen asked you for permission to get one? The team at The Hills Dental Spa advises parents to give a firm ‘No.’
Here’s five reasons why teens should avoid oral piercings:
- Excessive drooling
- Chipped teeth
- Infection
- Hypersensitivity to metal
- Nerve damage
Let’s discuss these dangers in more detail.
Drooling
Lip and tongue piercings let teens express their personality and creativity. But they can cause repeated drooling.
Broken Teeth
Another critical reason to keep piercings away from your mouth, lips, and tongue, is because having any metal in your mouth can chip your teeth. This can happen while eating, drinking, or sleeping.
Does your teen already have a tooth that’s damaged? These cracks can then be repaired before further damage or decay occurs.
Small breaks in a teeth can be filled, or crowned. But often adolescents with piercings come in with more serious problems. These may necessitate a root canal or tooth extraction.
Infection
The mouth is a haven for bacteria. When tissue is pierced, bacteria can enter the bloodstream. Neglecting proper brushing habits can increase the risk. Touching the piercing with dirty hands can also introduce bacteria.
Hypersensitivity to Metal
Metal piercings can result in a hypersensitivity to any metal in your mouth, such as silverware. This is problematic for any that like to eat.
Furthermore, there is a risk of an allergic reaction at the piercing site. If your teen is aware of a sensitivity to certain metals, they can get the piercing in a metal that doesn’t cause problems. But your teen is still in jeopardy of the other perils discussed here.
Nerve Damage
This is the scariest. Piercings put your son or daughter at risk of irreversible nerve damage. If the previous dangers don’t dissuade your , this one should. Experiencing a numb tongue is usually temporary. But for some adolescents, it has become permanent.
At The Hills Dental Spa in Austin we want the best possible dental health for all our patients. People from Westlake, Lakeway, and Bee Cave come to us for cosmetic dentistry and healthy smiles. Schedule an appointment today!
Contact The Hills Dental Spa:
512-347-0044
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
6836 Bee Cave Road, Building 1 Suite 300
Austin, Texas
78746
