PLAYING WITH a pierced-tongue stud can lead to gaps between front teeth, new research has shown.
The study, which was carried out by the University at Buffalo, New York, shows that those with tongue piercings are likely to push the metal stud up against their teeth and consequently cause gaps and other problems to arise.
“It is a basic tenet of orthodontics that force, over time, moves teeth,” said the study’s primary investigator, Sawsan Tabbaa, assistant professor of orthodontics at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.
Dr Edward O’Reilly of the Irish Dental Association said: “People with tongue piercings tend to play with them. If you apply force to teeth over time, gaps will appear .”
Dr O’Reilly said “habitually rattling the metal stud over the surface of the teeth and gums causes chipping and erosion that’s difficult and expensive to correct.”
He also warned that, in addition to the cosmetic downside created by gaps, oral piercings also carry other risks.
“There are over 700 species of bacteria in the mouth, so a piercing can become the ideal site for infection.
“Because the tongue is so vascular, infection can quickly spread through the bloodstream causing serious complications like septicaemia or brain abscess. We would strongly urge people to avoid tongue piercings.”
The study, which examined before and after photographs of subjects with tongue piercings, found that pushing a barbell-shaped stud between upper front teeth, forcing a space between them and, subsequently, habitually placing the stud in the space, created a gap.
“The barbell is never removed because the tongue is so vascular, leaving the stud out can result in healing of the opening in the tongue,” said Tabbaa.
“So it makes perfect sense that constant pushing of the stud against the teeth every day with no break will move them or drive them apart.”
