TravellingGuy said:
...The mouth is actually one of the cleanest places on your body, it is self cleaning.....
Source: Sun Media
Written by: Dr. Gifford-Jones
"Piercing any part of the body carries a risk of infection. But the mouth is a dirty place with vast amounts of bacteria so the risk of oral infection is always much greater. Moreover, if poorly sterilized instruments are used there's always the risk of developing hepatitis or AIDS. And since the tongue is close to the throat an infected swollen tongue can also block the airway causing difficulty breathing.
Good sense dictates that inserting a metal object into the tongue is not a good prescription for sound dental care. Some people have accidentally bitten on the hard tongue stud causing a tooth to crack. The presence of a tongue ring can also cause speech problems and difficulty swallowing.
Before people decide to join this latest craze remember that most body piercers are unlicensed and often self-trained. They usually learn the procedure by watching their peers or video tapes. Would you want someone to remove your appendix who was trained this way? "
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Source: American Academy of Periodontology
A new study* published in the March Journal of Periodontology found that extended wear of tongue jewelry (barbell-type) could increase your chance of gum recession and tooth chipping.
Researchers from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and Ohio State University College of Dentistry examined and surveyed 52 young adults with pierced tongues. They found gum recession in 35 percent of subjects with pierced tongues for four or more years, and in 50 percent wearing long-stemmed barbells for two or more years.
"During tongue movement, long-stem barbells are more likely to reach and damage the gums than short barbells," said Dr. Dimitris Tatakis, professor of periodontology at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry and coauthor of the study. "Over time, this damage may cause the gums to recede, which can lead to more serious dental/oral complications."
Additionally, 47 percent of young adults wearing either type of barbell for four or more years had chipped teeth. The prevalence of tooth chipping was significantly greater in those wearing short-stemmed barbells (1/4 inch - 5/8 inch) for four or more years.
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Also, a good linke here:
http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/pubs/jada/patient/patient_04.pdf
Just FYI.