The New Brunswick Dental Society is taking aim at oral piercings, saying there must be more education and regulation around the industry to cut down on disease and other dental problems.
Body piercer Becca McCabe does about a dozen tongue piercings a month. She says she always tells her client to practice good oral hygiene to prevent infection, and informs them about potential risks associated with oral piercings.
“We also tell them not to play with it, which is difficult,” says McCabe. “A lot of people develop oral fixations. People like to play with their jewelry, especially when it’s in their mouth, and it gets hard not to.”
Dentist Dr. Nicole Brien says one of the most common side effects of oral piercings is chipping or cracking of the teeth.
“They’ll crack a piece of the tooth off. Also, it can do a lot of damage to their gum tissues.”
Tiana Nash has two oral piercings. She says she has only encountered one problem with her piercings, which required a quick and easy fix.
“It was actually because of the jewelry I had in, which is why proper jewelry is really important for piercings,” says Nash. “That’s a really good way to avoid dental problems.”
The New Brunswick Dental Society says research shows the chances of gum recession after a tongue piercing is 40 per cent within two years, and it continues to increase the longer the piercing is in.
“I discourage any type of oral piercings so any patients that I would see, I strongly encourage them to remove their piercing,” says Brien.
Brien tells her patients who insist on having an oral piercing to choose plastic studs or rings, instead of metal ones.
McCabe admits oral piercings can be problematic, mostly due to jewelry that doesn’t fit properly.
“You are putting yourself at a higher risk if you are wearing something heavy, or something large,” she says. “You have to accept the risk that comes with it.”
McCabe says that’s why she won’t pierce anyone under the age of 16, even with parental consent.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
