Tongue Piercings Harbor More Germs
November 25, 2009

By Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service

INTELIHEALTH - Tongue piercing isn't new; it's been around for hundreds of years. But its increasing popularity among younger people has concerned some dentists. A recent small study analyzed the types of bacteria that grow around tongue piercings.

The study examined 12 people. The researchers found that all of the pierced areas had high levels of bacteria that cause periodontal disease. Levels were much higher than in people without tongue piercings.

Piercings had been in place between two and eight years. People with older piercings had even higher levels of bacteria than people with newer piercings. Heavy smokers had even higher levels of periodontal bacteria.

Researchers from the University of Goettingen, Germany, did the study.

Tongue piercing can lead to swelling, scarring, infection and periodontal disease. More rarely, people suffer from nerve damage. In some people, the gums inside the front of the mouth can recede from the repeated pressure of the tongue jewelry. Dentists also suggest that some crowns and fillings could be damaged by tongue jewelry.

The researchers suggest that people with tongue piercings clean their tongues as part of their daily hygiene routine. Tongue scrapers can be purchased in most pharmacies. The tongue jewelry should be disinfected before use. Dentists can write prescriptions for a disinfectant called chlorhexidine.