Before you allow your child to receive any type of oral or dental piercing or modification, you should do plenty of research in order to be as informed as possible about the risks associated with them. Here at Garlock Orthodontics, many of our patients are teenagers or adolescents, and we’ve found that piercings are quite popular among this demographic.
Health Risks of Oral Piercings
Below are a few of the dental health risks associated with receiving oral piercings:
- The chipping, cracking, or breaking of the teeth
- Damage to the gum tissue
- Loss of taste
- High risk of infection
- Eventual loss of the tooth or teeth
Of all of the above scenarios, an infection would be the most likely. This is because your mouth is home to millions of bacteria, which will storm the wound and cause all sorts of problems. It’s difficult for a teenager to properly care for and clean an oral piercing well enough to avoid infection.
Additionally, an oral piercing can take between 4 to 6 weeks to fully heal. These weeks can be painful and uncomfortable, and your child’s piercing will require plenty of care, upkeep, and maintenance to stay clean and healthy. Before allowing your child to receive an oral piercing, make sure he or she knows about the healing process and the care needed to avoid infection.
To set up an appointment for your child to receive an orthodontic evaluation, please don’t hesitate to contact Garlock Orthodontics. Our office is located here in Aurora, Colorado.