| Piercing is one of the most prevalent form of | | | | Tongue swelling and bleeding |
| body art and self-expression. But body piercing | | | | In response to the trauma of a piercing, a tongue |
| should not be a frivolous, spur-of-the-moment act. | | | | will swell - sometimes to the size of a large pickle. |
| Why? It's a surgical procedure that is frequently | | | | This poses the risk of airway blockage, which can |
| carried out in beauty salons or tattoo/piercing | | | | result in death. The major vessels of the lingual |
| parlors that are completely unregulated. Worse | | | | artery and vein are located in the tongue and, if |
| yet, body parts are also pierced at concerts and | | | | pierced, will bleed profusely. If a piercing wound |
| in people's garages, basements and bathrooms. | | | | bleeds excessively (i.e., for more than an hour |
| Currently, there are no certification or training | | | | after the piercing), see your physician immediately. |
| standards for body piercers. Anyone can grab a | | | | Other non-life threatening problem are: |
| needle (which may be contaminated with AIDS or | | | | Pain - The diameter of the to 14-gauge needle |
| Hepatitis B, C, D or G) and puncture someone | | | | usually used to pierce tongues is seven times |
| else's body. Oral piercing, in particular, poses some | | | | greater than the needle used in traditional dental |
| serious risks because of the high number of | | | | anesthesia. |
| bacteria normally found in the mouth. It's a | | | | Cracked teeth - Frequently, people with pierced |
| procedure that should not be taken lightly. | | | | tongues accidentally bite down on the stud while |
| Tongue piercing can lead to serious infection, lost | | | | chewing, chipping or cracking a tooth. |
| teeth, nerve injuries, blood poisoning - even death. | | | | Speech interference - The tongue plays a large |
| The most serious risks include: | | | | role in your speech, and some people complain |
| Infections | | | | that they can't speak clearly after getting their |
| According to the Hepatitis C Foundation, body | | | | tongues pierced. |
| piercing has contributed significantly to the spread | | | | Traumatic neuromas - altered sensation can |
| of Hepatitis C (also known as HCV), a disease | | | | develop, which produce nerve injuries in the |
| that public health officials predict will kill more | | | | tongue. |
| people than AIDS in the next millennium. The | | | | Some individuals experience allergic reactions to |
| National Institutes of Health has identified piercing | | | | the jewelry, particularly if it is not made of |
| as a potential source for other bloodborne | | | | surgical steel, gold or titanium. |
| hepatitis (B, D and G). The deadly AIDS virus can | | | | Gum damage - The jewelry can rub against the |
| also be transmitted during body piercing, if the | | | | gums and cause them to recede, or pull back |
| piercer uses a contaminated needle. | | | | from the teeth. This can lead to gum disease and |
| Toxic Shock | | | | eventual tooth loss. |
| A serious form of blood poisoning, commonly | | | | Keloid formation - Large growths of scar tissue |
| known as toxic shock syndrome, can enter the | | | | protrude from the piercing on both the top and |
| body through the piercing wound and spread | | | | the underside of the tongue. |
| throughout the body. Symptoms of TSS include | | | | Prolonged or permanent drooling - In some |
| high fever, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea, | | | | individuals, their bodies naturally respond to the |
| dizziness, a rapid pulse and a sunburn-like rash. | | | | invasiveness of the tongue piercing by increased |
| TSS is potentially fatal, so if you notice any of | | | | salivation. This response cannot be consciously |
| these symptoms, it's important to be evaluated | | | | controlled. |
| by a healthcare professional immediately. | | | | Damaged sense of taste - The American Dental |
| Lung aspiration of the jewelry | | | | Association stands firmly against the practice of |
| The barbell placed in a pierced tongue can come | | | | oral piercing. The National Institute of Health and |
| off. If the post (the needle-like portion of the | | | | The National Hepatitis Foundation have also taken |
| jewelry that goes through the tongue) is | | | | a position against tongue piercing. Many dentists |
| swallowed, it can obstruct the airway and aspirate | | | | recommend that you think twice before |
| into the lung, or perforating the bowel or the | | | | undergoing the procedure. |
| intestine, causing death. | | | | |