Hey! I'm Frankie, and welcome to my dental advice blog. I'm a foodie and I love sweet treats, but I also love my teeth! It can be hard to keep your dental health in top condition when you've got a sweet tooth, but it's not impossible. Over the years, I've learned tons of great advice from friends, family members and dentists, and I'd love to share it with you. My blog is here to give you all the tips and tricks you need to stay free of decay and other tooth problems without giving up all your favourite foods and snacks.
If you've decided to have your tongue pierced, then you'll be keen to get this done as soon as you can. You can't wait to get the piercing and show it off. However, there are times when tongue piercings don't work as well as others.
For example, if you're about to have braces fitted, then your orthodontist may have asked you to put the piercing on hold. Do you really have to wait until your orthodontic treatment is finished?
How Tongue Piercings Affect Braces
Your orthodontist may worry that the jewellery you have in your tongue piercing will interfere with your brace posts and wires. For example, the brace posts on your teeth are there to hold them in their new positions. If you have a heavy barbell in your tongue, it could make posts move or even come off. Plus, if a barbell or stud gets caught in brace wires, then it could pull them out of position or even break them.
These wires move your teeth. If they aren't positioned right or don't have the right tension, then they can't work. You may need to keep going back to your orthodontist to have them fixed. This makes your treatment take longer.
How Tongue Piercings Affect Teeth and Gums
Your teeth and gums need to be in good condition when you have braces on. Orthodontics make it harder to clean your teeth and gums anyway, as the braces are in the way. Braces also sometimes make it harder to have some dental treatments.
Tongue piercings can cause some tooth and gum issues. For example, they can chip teeth; they can also carry infections to the gums or make them recede. If you have to have dental treatment because your piercing has damaged your teeth or gums, then your orthodontist may need to take off some or all of your braces.
If your piercing simply changes your gums, say by making them recede, then this also affects the way your braces work. Again, this also affects treatment time.
Your orthodontist isn't just being pernickety; they're talking from experience. You stand a better chance of straightening your teeth quickly and effectively without a tongue piercing. So, if you can wait, you probably should.
If you're determined to go ahead with the piercing and your orthodontist agrees to treat you anyway, you may have to wait a while before your braces go on. Your orthodontist is likely to prefer to wait until your piercing is fully healed before they start work on your teeth.
Share2 November 2018
