Tongue Studs & Cardiac Infections

The mouth is full of bacteria that can cause infections when the tongue is pierced.

Tongue studs are the items of jewelry worn when your tongue is pierced. The practice carries health risks. You should be aware of the potential effects on your health that sometimes accompany a pierced tongue before you decide to adorn it.

Infection in General

Any time there is an opening in skin or tissue, infection may occur. This includes oral tissues. The mouth is especially at risk for infection due to the high level of bacteria located there. Piercings of the tissue can cause infection because of the forced entry into the tongue tissue. In addition, DentalGentleCare.com reports touching of the jewelry after it has been placed in the tongue can increase the chance of this developing.

Heart Infection

Though infections may occur at the site of the piercing, they can spread to other parts of the body. A serious infection that may be caused by oral piercing is endocarditis. This is an inflammation of the heart valves or tissues of the heart. WebMD says that infection occurs when the opening created by the tongue piercing allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart. It especially is a possibility for those individuals who already have cardiac issues.

Endocarditis

Endocarditis is serious, because heart failure can result if this infection damages the heart valve. Usually the symptoms begin within 2 weeks after being infected. If the bacteria is a more powerful strain, they will be more severe and happen faster, within a few days. Usually the first symptom to appear is a low-grade fever accompanied by fatigue. Other symptoms may include chills, weight loss, night sweats, painful joints, cough, difficulty breathing, tiny purple spots under the skin or bleeding under the fingernails. If you have symptoms of this, seek medical attention.

Other Health Risks

Oral piercing may cause other health problems. The American Association of Family Physicians report that some of side effects of this include prolonged bleeding (due to damage to the blood vessels in the tongue), swelling, nerve damage, blood borne disease transmission and tetanus. Others might be toxic shock, staph infections and blood poisoning. Many of these diseases can spread and eventually also invade the heart.

Prevention

If you decide to get your tongue pierced, first research the facility carefully. Check to make sure this is a licensed business. Look in the procedure area to see if it appears clean, organized, and has good lighting. Watch some piercings done by the individual you are considering using for your piercing. Make sure he uses new gloves and a new disposable needle for every individual. Do not choose a place that utilizes piercing guns because they are hard to clean and cause more damage to the skin and tissue. Check to see if instrument cleaning devices such as autoclaves are present and being used.

Warning

It is very important for you to follow all post-procedural instructions for taking care of your new piercing in order to minimize the chance of infection. If you develop any health problems after the procedure, contact your physician as soon as possible.

References

• American Academy of Family Physicians: Oral Piercing
• Dental Gentle Care: Oral Piercing
• Web MD: Oral Health
• Columbia University Health Services: Tongue Piercing