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About Oral Piercing
Oral piercing involving the tongue, lips or cheeks has become a popular practice. Many side effects, ranging from discomfort to serious health hazards, can result from these procedures. Anyone thinking about oral piercing should consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
Oral piercing is usually done without anesthetic. In tongue piercing, a needle is used to insert a barbell-shaped piece of jewelry through the middle of the tongue. At first a temporary, oversized piece of jewelry is used to accommodate swelling. After several weeks, a barbell is inserted into the hole and a ball is screwed onto the stem. If no complications develop, healing takes four to six weeks.
In lip or cheek piercing, a cork is held inside the mouth to support the tissue as it is pierced with a needle. The needle is then replaced with a stud or hoop. Healing time ranges from weeks to months. |
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