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