An increasing number of Friendswood adolescents are sporting tongue, cheek, and lip piercings.
If your teen asks your permission to get an oral piercing?
The team at Montz and Maher Dental Group 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 teenagers express their personality and creativity. But they can cause frequent drooling. I doubt your teen is enthusiastic about that prospect. But, interestingly, some are more worried about drooling than nerve damage.
Broken Teeth
Another essential 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 broken? Repair these cracks early before more damage ensues.
Small cracks in teeth can be filled or crowned. But often adolescents with piercings come in with more serious problems. These may use a root canal or tooth extraction.
Infection
The mouth is a haven for bacteria. When tissue is pierced, bacteria can enter the bloodstream. Neglecting appropriate brushing habits can increase the risk. Touching the piercing with dirty hands can also introduce bacteria.
Hypersensitivity to Metal
Metal piercings can bring about a hypersensitivity to any metal in your mouth, such as silverware. This is problematic for anyone that likes to eat.
Additionally, there is a risk of an allergic reaction at the piercing site. If your teen is aware of sensitivity to certain metals, they can get the piercing in a metal that doesn’t cause problems. But your adolescent is still in danger of the other hazards discussed here.
Nerve Damage
This is the scariest. Piercings put your son or daughter at risk of permanent nerve damage. If the previous dangers don’t dissuade you, this one should. Experiencing a numb tongue is usually temporary. But for some teens, it has become permanent.
Contact Montz and Maher Dental Group:
832-895-5120
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
820 S Friendswood Ste 100
Friendswood, Texas
77546
