this was posted on CNN.
LONDON, England (Reuters) -- It dates back hundreds of years and has gained popularity with today's youth but dentists say tongue-piercing can have serious complications.
Apart from infection, bleeding and scarring, it can also cause cracked teeth and nerve damage.
"Piercing of oral sites may lead to a number of complications, some of which are life-threatening," said Tamer Theodossy, of University College London, renewing warnings against the practice.
In a report in the British Dental Journal, Theodossy described how the tongue of a 28-year-old woman swelled and totally encased a barbell pierced through it. The woman needed surgery to remove it.
"Piercing of oral sites also carries a high risk of infection with the possibility of transmission of organisms such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, Herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus and candida," he added.
Herpes simplex is linked to cold sores and the Epstein-Barr virus causes glandular fever.
Dr. Mervyn Druian, of the British Dental Association, also advised against tongue piercing because of the potential complications.
"The trouble is, it has became a fashion accessory for some people," he said.
i can see how it could damage your teeth. i know a girl who has a tongue ring and she is constantly clicking it on the back of her front teeth. it gets kind of annoying sometimes but i doubt she even realizes that shes doing it.
[QUOTE=Quote (demonbuttercup @ May 28 2003,22:59)]i can see how it could damage your teeth. i know a girl who has a tongue ring and she is constantly clicking it on the back of her front teeth. it gets kind of annoying sometimes but i doubt she even realizes that shes doing it.[/QUOTE]
I have had my tongue pierced for around 3 years now. And a lot of my friends also get annoyed with my constant clicking on the back of my teeth and i definetly dont realise have the time as i am that used to doing it now where at first i done it deliberate.
Anyway, the only problem i have had with the piercing was withing the first two weeks because i couldnt eat proper and when i went to get a new piercing in the piercer i went to told me i had too big a bar been put in my tongue when done and this was causing the tissue to rip. I got the piercing done at a musical festival so should have knew better. But have never had any problems since.
Although cant give the g/f oral sex as fast as used too, tongue doesnt come out as far.