Study links tongue piercings to dental problems
A new study carried out by the University of Buffalo in New York has suggested that tongue piercing can be a major cause of unnecessary orthodontic issues.
The report claims that those with tongue piercings tend to push the metal stud against their teeth and thus cause gaps and other issues to appear. The primary investigator of the study, which is published in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics, explained that ‘force, over time, moves teeth’ and that the results, that are caused by people playing with their studs, occur in a ‘very high percent of the cases.
The studies lead investigator, Sawsan Tabbaa, who is a professor of orthodontics at the UB School of Dental Medicine noted that tooth damage was common in both previous and current case studies. The current study, featuring a twenty six year old female patient, showed that a space between the upper front teeth had appeared during a period of seven years as the metal bar was pushed against and between teeth. It was revealed that the only solution was for a fixed brace to be worn for a lengthy period of time.
Tabbaa continued to highlight the risks of tongue piercings, which include chipped teeth and infection, and suggested that if health and spiral costs were to be avoided, then so should tongue piercings.
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