Tongue Piercing

Dear Lisa,

My teenage daughter wants to get her tongue pierced. I want to give her information about the risks of tongue piercing since she’ll be 18 years old soon and plans to have this done.

“What are the risks of tongue piercing?”

Dear “What are the risks of tongue piercing?”

The risks of tongue piercing include severe swelling, difficulty breathing, infections of the mouth and throat, chipping of the teeth, damage of the dental enamel, difficulty chewing and talking, possibility of aspirating jewelry (dislodged jewelry can be breathed into the lungs), trauma to the gum, endocarditis (infection of the heart), hypersalivation (making too much saliva), and problems during medical emergency procedures .(1,2) In case of an emergency, healthcare providers may need to intubate a patient or put a tube in the airway to keep them breathing. Oral piercings may interfere with the procedure and make intubation more difficult.

It is a good idea to inform your daughter of the risks and potential complications of tongue piercing. Although she soon will be 18 years old and will no longer need your consent, she will still need to be informed of the possible side effects and potential complications so that she can make an informed decision. If she does decide to get her tongue pierced she should know that there can be a delay in healing time of oral piercings if she smokes. (3) If she has a cardiac valve defect or congenital heart disease, antibiotics will need to be taken before the procedure. Also, there is a risk of developing a bifid tongue, or a tongue that splits in half as the result of tongue piercing . (4) Until the site is healed avoidance of exposure to other person’s body fluids which may harbor bacteria is recommended.(5)

(1)Grassia T. Treatment of skin issues requires knowing the patient’s needs. Infectious Diseases in Children. 2006;(June):42.
(2)Friedel J, Stehlik J, Desai M, Granato J. Infective endocarditis after oral body piercing. Cardiol. Rev. 2003;11(5):252-255.
(3)Cartwright M. Body piercing: what nurse practitioners need to know. J. Am Aced Nurse Pract. 2000;12(5):171-174.
(4) Fleming, P, Flood, T. Bifid tongue a complication of tongue piercing. Dr Dent J 2005;
198(5):265-266.
(5)Thiem L. Body Piercing, clinical considerations. Clinician Reviews.2005;15(1):30-34.

Lisa Kelly R.N., P.N.P.,C.
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Pediatric Advice for Teenagers