‘Oral jewellery’ is a serious health hazard
Oral piercings have been identified by dentists as a significant risk to young people’s oral health, and in extreme cases can result in life threatening infections
The IDA points out that, as the mouth harbours a large number of bacteria, high levels of these bacteria may enter the blood system as a result of an oral piercing. This can lead to a condition known as Infective Endocarditis, whereby bacteria become attached to an abnormal section (due to a murmur or damaged valve) of a young person’s heart, leading to serious illness.
Endocarditis sufferers may display fevers, night sweats and general ill health over a period of weeks or months. Treatment usually requires large doses of antibiotics or even heart surgery to correct.
The IDA also warns that, since there is no regulatory code in Ireland or the EU for piercing establishments, the risk of cross infection between those getting piercings can be high. This risk is increased when abroad or at music festival, where there may be a lowering of hygiene standards, leading to a greater risk of contacting Hepatitis B, C, D and HIV.
Even when the more dangerous risks of oral piercing are avoided, oral jewellery wearers are at increased risk of sustaining irreversible damage to long-term oral health. Dentists have reported an increased number of young patients reporting with chipped or fractured teeth, infection, gum loss and tissue overgrowth around the piercing site.
“Obviously we urge people, especially students that may be entering college later this month, not to undergo oral piercings. We advise anyone who has recently acquired one to monitor for any symptoms such as fever. If any such symptoms present, the wearer should consult a doctor,” Dr Kevin O’Boyle of the IDA said.
“If you get an oral piercing you must accept that you will damage your oral health and in many cases that damage will be irreversible. While a fractured or chipped tooth may not cause many problems at first, the long term affects will be painful and in many cases costly.
“One of the more painful and unpleasant aspects of oral jewellery happens when the gums recede. In order to correct receding gums the patient must undergo painful grafting of the gum, a treatment which will help to alleviate some pain and infection but it can never return the gum to full health.”
The Dublin Dental Hospital divided the non-life threatening complications of oral piercings into Early and Late Phase Symptoms as follows:
- Early: Bleeding, oral pain, swelling, infection, airway obstruction, nerve damage, speech impairment, hypersensitivity to metal.
- Late: Chipped or fractured teeth, gum damage, excessive saliva production, swallowing or inhalation of the jewellery, difficulty with oral and head x-rays, difficulty cleaning the jewellery, overgrowth around the piercing.