With more young people piercing their tongues and lips, they are also risking numerous dental problems. Tongue piercing involves punching out a hole in the tongue and placing a metal stud or barbell in this hole. Tongue piercing can often result in severe swelling and pain due to the numerous nerve endings. This can make eating and talking very difficult. A severely swollen tongue may actually block a person's airway.
Infection is a real danger with tongue piercing.
Allergic reactions may occur if the stud is not pure metal. Blood poisoning and blood clots are other potential concerns. As the tongue is constantly moving, healing from tongue piercing is slow and can take up to a month. Teeth and gums are also affected by tongue and lip piercing. Teeth can often become cracked or chipped from the barbell moving in the mouth.