Are Lip and Tongue Piercings Bad for Your Teeth?

While they used to be the fashion accessories of choice for countercultural types, facial and body piercings have become much more socially acceptable in the last few decades. However, any dentist will be able to tell you that some piercings come with other drawbacks.

Piercings of the lip and tongue in particular can have negative effects on your teeth and gums. The materials used in most tongue rings and lip rings are capable of doing damage to the surrounding teeth, and will in the right circumstances. What’s more, the presence of a hole in the mouth invites additional opportunities for infection, which can spread to the teeth and gums if untreated.

This doesn’t mean you can’t get a piercing and have nice teeth. But you will want to follow certain precautions with your piercing:

• Keep your piercing clean and free of foreign material.
• Try not to have the piercing come into direct contact with your teeth.
• Use mouthwash to keep the piercing infection-free.
• Remove any jewelry from the tongue and mouth before playing sports.
• See a dentist immediately if you notice swelling or redness around the piercing.
• Continue to practice good dental hygiene.
• Go to your dentist for a cleaning and examination every 6 months.

There is also a better chance that you will need a cosmetic dentistry procedure at some point to repair damage done by the lip ring or tongue ring.

If you have more questions about how to care for your teeth with a lip or tongue piercing, you should come to Hardin Advanced Dentistry in Cincinnati for a check-up and consultation. You can do so by filling out the form on the right side of this page, or by calling (513) 398-4448. We serve patients in Cincinnati, Dayton, and the surrounding communities.