There’s a popular, humorous definition for insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results.
Here at Forever Smiles, we’ve created a new tongue-in-cheek definition for the word: spending hard-earned money on orthodontic treatment and then getting an oral piercing.
Everywhere we go, we see more young people piercing their lips, cheeks or tongue.
“While it may be trendy, it's such a bad idea,” says Dr. Yan Razdolsky, a Buffalo Grove SureSmile and Invisalign provider. “It’s particularly unwise if you've had braces. Why would you spend all that money to get your teeth properly aligned, and then do something that can cause permanent damage to your new, beautiful smile?”
There’s something you need to know about oral piercings. No matter what kind of cute, trendy name they call the type of piercing- Monroe, Madonna or Medusa- they all can spell disaster for your teeth and gums.
It is common for people who place rings in their lips to wear a groove in the neighboring tooth or teeth. Studs have been known to push teeth out of alignment, due to the constant pressure they can apply to the teeth. Tongue piercings can chip your teeth while you’re eating or if you play with the piercing by running it along your teeth. Piercings also can wear away your gum tissue and usher in periodontal disease.
Other piercing-related problems include:
- Damage to fillings
- Nerve damage
- Scar tissue buildup
- Increased saliva flow, and even drooling
- Increase in metal sensitivity
- Allergic reactions
And here’s some really sobering news: the mouth’s moist environment breeds massive levels of bacteria, which can open the door to infection, according to the American Dental Association.
“This can be incredibly dangerous, because an oral infection can become deadly if not treated soon enough,” says Dr. Razdolsky, who specializes in braces for children and adults. “If bacteria enters the bloodstream through the piercing site in the mouth it could potentially travel to the heart can even colonize on heart abnormalities.”
This is a risk people with heart conditions face.
So before you get serious about getting a piercing, consider these potential pitfalls and consult your dentist or orthodontist. Talk to us if you would like more information.
Learn More
For more information about Forever Smiles or to schedule a consultation, call (847) 215-7554.
About Dr. Yan Razdolsky
Dr. Yan Razdolsky has steadily left his mark on the orthodontics field through innovative treatment, a series of patents and hundreds of instructional lectures to fellow orthodontists from around the world since he began his career in 1987.
He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry in 1985 and earned a graduate degree in orthodontics. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
