Tongue, Lip Piercings May Harm Teeth and Gums

By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, June 20, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Getting your tongue or lips pierced? Don’t be shocked when your dentist is sad about it.

These piercings can do injury to your enamel and gums, a brand new research warns.

“Our research discovered that many individuals with oral piercings had deep pockets and gaps round their enamel, and receding and bleeding gums,” mentioned research creator Dr. Clemens Walter, a professor at University Medicine Greifswald in Germany. “These are all indicators of periodontitis, additionally referred to as gum illness, which might result in tooth loss.”

Walter and his colleagues analyzed eight research that included 408 folks with a mixed 236 lip piercings and 236 tongue piercings. In all, 1 in 5 had multiple oral piercing. The individuals reported having their piercings starting from one month to 19 years, and most folk wore metallic jewellery of their piercings.

The research in contrast enamel and gums subsequent to the piercings with areas elsewhere within the mouth.

Researchers reported that 3 in 5 research discovered deeper pockets round enamel subsequent to tongue piercings, and three in 4 discovered wider gaps between enamel; 2 in 3 discovered bleeding gums, and 4 research on the lookout for receding gums discovered it in all 4.

In addition, 3 of 4 research taking a look at lip piercings revealed receding gums within the space.

The research evaluate was offered Wednesday at a gathering of the European Federation of Periodontology, in Copenhagen. Research offered at conferences is usually thought of preliminary till printed in a peer-reviewed journal.

“The findings recommend that oral piercings, particularly within the tongue, negatively have an effect on the adjoining enamel and gums,” Walter mentioned in a gathering information launch. “In these with tongue piercings, injury was significantly notable across the backside two entrance enamel, referred to as the mandibular incisors, that are vital for biting and chewing meals.”

The chance of tooth and gum injury appeared to extend with time, he added.

His recommendation: “People with tongue and lip piercings ought to take away them to guard their enamel and gums from additional injury,” Walter mentioned.

About 5% of younger adults have oral piercings, with the tongue being the commonest website. Women are about 4 occasions extra more likely to have an oral piercing than males, in line with the research authors.

Previous analysis has yielded comparable findings. Researchers on the brand new research urged dentists to inform their sufferers concerning the danger of issues from sporting oral piercings.

More info

There’s extra on oral piercing on the American Dental Association.

SOURCE: European Federation of Periodontology, information launch, June 16, 2022