Can Tongue Piercings Give You Bad Teeth?

A tongue ring is a piece of jewelry that is pierced through the tongue, and must be worn there constantly. Because it is a hard piece of jewelry that is kept in the mouth, there are some health risks, including damage to teeth, that can develop from a tongue ring.

Damage to Teeth

• Having a piece of metal in your mouth constantly is unlike any other condition that you would naturally encounter. Some wearers of tongue jewelry find it irresistible to play with the tongue ring with their teeth, clenching or clicking it. Such a hard surface on tooth enamel can cause chipping or just a gradual wearing away of the tooth enamel. There have also been instances of gum erosion, which can lead to teeth falling out prematurely.

Gaps

• In one case reported in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, a young woman developed a gap between her front teeth when she repeatedly pushed the stud against her upper front teeth. While this doesn't appear to be a common side effect, it is incredibly common for wearers of tongue rings to "play with" the stud against their teeth.

Ring Deterioration

• While there are no published studies, there are potential problems with leaving a metal or plastic ring constantly in the acidic environment of the mouth. While most tongue rings are made of surgical steel, all materials deteriorate to some degree over time, and usually more so in an acidic environment. There can be health concerns that develop from metal or plastic components disintegrating in the mouth, where the wearer ingests them and toxicity can develop. Such toxicity can lead to brittle bones and teeth, which can lead to excessive chipping, breaking and falling out of teeth.

Tongue Piercing - A Surgical Procedure

• Tongue piercing is a surgical procedure, albeit a minor one. Investigating the risks and potential side effects is a prudent decision, since the procedure can affect many components of the wearer's dental health.