8 Reasons You Shouldn't Get Your Tongue Pierced

May 3 • 2 minute read

A teenage girl covering her mouth.

As a health professional, you sometimes have to advise against behaviors people know they shouldn't do. Most people know they shouldn't drink carbonated beverages with heaping servings of sugar, but dentists routinely find evidence that this behavior occurs. Likewise, you should know that punching holes in your tongue and having metal clanking around in your mouth are not good for your oral health, but lots of people, especially young people, get their tongues pierced ever year.

We understand and respect that people want to express their individuality in all sorts of ways, but for those considering body modification in their mouths, here are some reasons your dentist thinks it's a terrible idea to get your tongue pierced:

Tongue piercings can chip your teeth. Tongue piercings are the reason a lot of teens and young adults need crowns even when they haven't experienced significant tooth decay.
Tongue piercings put you at risk for bacterial infections with serious consequences. By no means would we say infections are the common experience in body modification, but it's a significant risk nonetheless. Academic research has been published linking tongue piercings to infections with life-threatening consequences.
Tongue piercing can be done in many unsafe ways. Many businesses that do tongue piercings are licensed and inspected to ensure safe conditions. Many young people, on the other hand, don't go to these businesses when they don't have parental approval.
Tongue piercings can cause speech difficulties. Sometimes the unfavorable results of a bad tongue piercing include excess saliva and a change in speech patterns.
Tongue piercings can make your gums recede prematurely. A common trend among many young people with a tongue piercing is receding gums on the inside of their teeth. This can lead to many unnecessary oral health complications early in life.
Tongue piercings can cause permanent nerve damage. Again, many body modification businesses are reputable and safe, but many people don't get their tongues pierced in these businesses. A wrong move can lead to permanent nerve damage if you opt for the do-it-yourself tongue piercing.
Tongue piercings can give you stinky breath. Plaque builds up on teeth and can lead to pungent breath. Putting a piece of jewelry in your mouth gives plaque another place to build up, and tongue piercings can be hard to clean. Do yourself a favor and avoid this unnecessary hassle.
The American Dental Association recommends against tongue piercing. It shouldn't come as a surprise, but the ADA recommends against tongue piercing because of risks including "swelling, bleeding, infection, chipped or damaged teeth, gingivial recession, lacerations/scarring, hypersalivation, etc."

Thanks for reading!

We hope the clear risks of tongue piercing encourage a few out there to consider expressing their individuality in other ways. If you've had a tongue piercing and would like to help clean up some of the damage, consider a consultation with your dentist to talk about cosmetic and restoration work.

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