The Danger of Tongue Piercing

Piercing is one of the most prevalent form ofTongue swelling and bleeding
body art and self-expression. But body piercingIn 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 frequentlyThis poses the risk of airway blockage, which can
carried out in beauty salons or tattoo/piercingresult in death. The major vessels of the lingual
parlors that are completely unregulated. Worseartery and vein are located in the tongue and, if
yet, body parts are also pierced at concerts andpierced, 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 trainingafter the piercing), see your physician immediately.
standards for body piercers. Anyone can grab aOther non-life threatening problem are:
needle (which may be contaminated with AIDS orPain - The diameter of the to 14-gauge needle
Hepatitis B, C, D or G) and puncture someoneusually used to pierce tongues is seven times
else's body. Oral piercing, in particular, poses somegreater than the needle used in traditional dental
serious risks because of the high number ofanesthesia.
bacteria normally found in the mouth. It's aCracked 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, lostchewing, 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
Infectionsthat they can't speak clearly after getting their
According to the Hepatitis C Foundation, bodytongues pierced.
piercing has contributed significantly to the spreadTraumatic neuromas - altered sensation can
of Hepatitis C (also known as HCV), a diseasedevelop, which produce nerve injuries in the
that public health officials predict will kill moretongue.
people than AIDS in the next millennium. TheSome individuals experience allergic reactions to
National Institutes of Health has identified piercingthe jewelry, particularly if it is not made of
as a potential source for other bloodbornesurgical steel, gold or titanium.
hepatitis (B, D and G). The deadly AIDS virus canGum damage - The jewelry can rub against the
also be transmitted during body piercing, if thegums and cause them to recede, or pull back
piercer uses a contaminated needle.from the teeth. This can lead to gum disease and
Toxic Shockeventual tooth loss.
A serious form of blood poisoning, commonlyKeloid formation - Large growths of scar tissue
known as toxic shock syndrome, can enter theprotrude from the piercing on both the top and
body through the piercing wound and spreadthe underside of the tongue.
throughout the body. Symptoms of TSS includeProlonged 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 ofsalivation. This response cannot be consciously
these symptoms, it's important to be evaluatedcontrolled.
by a healthcare professional immediately.Damaged sense of taste - The American Dental
Lung aspiration of the jewelryAssociation stands firmly against the practice of
The barbell placed in a pierced tongue can comeoral piercing. The National Institute of Health and
off. If the post (the needle-like portion of theThe National Hepatitis Foundation have also taken
jewelry that goes through the tongue) isa position against tongue piercing. Many dentists
swallowed, it can obstruct the airway and aspiraterecommend that you think twice before
into the lung, or perforating the bowel or theundergoing the procedure.
intestine, causing death.