A mouth piercing is jewellery placed in the tongue, lips or inside the mouth. A needle is used to make a hole so a stud, bar or ring can be worn.

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Are mouth piercings safe?

Mouth piercings can cause problems, even when done by an experienced professional.

Your mouth contains a lot of bacteria and delicate tissues, so piercings here carry extra risks.

Possible problems include:

• Infection: bacteria in the mouth can easily enter the piercing. Touching the jewellery with unwashed hands increases the risk.
• Pain and swelling: swelling is common after piercing. Severe swelling of the tongue can make it difficult to breathe.
• Prolonged bleeding: the tongue has a strong blood supply. If a blood vessel is damaged, bleeding can be heavy and hard to stop.
• Chipped or cracked teeth: jewellery can chip or crack teeth while talking or eating.
• Damage to the inside of a tooth if jewellery knocks the tooth repeatedly.
• Injury to the gums: jewellery rubbing the gums can cause recession. This damage cannot be reversed.
• Bad breath: bacteria can collect around the piercing and jewellery.
• Numbness in the tongue if a nerve is damaged. This can be temporary or permanent.
• Speech problems, such as a lisp, while your mouth adjusts to the jewellery.
• Swallowing or breathing problems if loose jewellery is swallowed or inhaled.
• Blood-borne infections: Poor hygiene during piercing may spread infections such as hepatitis.
• Endocarditis: bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and infect the heart valves. This is rare but serious.

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How to reduce the risk of infection and damage

Good cleaning and care are important.

• Clean your tongue and the piercing area every day.
• Keep the jewellery clean.
• Rinse with an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash if advised.
• Avoid playing with or biting the jewellery.
• Remove the jewellery for dental check-ups and X-rays if your dentist asks.

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When to get help

Contact a dentist or doctor urgently if you have:

• Severe swelling.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• Ongoing pain or pus around the piercing.
• Bleeding that will not stop.

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Different types of piercings

Tongue piercings

• Midline tongue piercing – A single bar placed vertically through the centre of the tongue.
• Two vertical tongue piercings (“Venom bites”) – Two separate vertical bars placed side by side in the tongue.
• Horizontal tongue piercing (“Snake eye”) – A bar placed horizontally through the tip of the tongue.

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Webbing piercings

• Lower frenulum – Through the thin webbing under the tongue.
• Upper frenulum (“Smiley”) – Through the small piece of tissue connecting the upper lip to the gum.

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Lip and mouth piercings

• Labret – A single piercing under the bottom lip.
• Snake bites – Two piercings, one on each side of the lower lip.
• Dolphin bites – Two piercings close together under the centre of the lower lip.
• Angel bites – Two piercings above the upper lip, one on each side.
• Spider bites – Two piercings close together on one side of the lip.
• Monroe – A single piercing above the upper lip on one side.
• Medusa/Philtrum – A piercing in the centre above the upper lip, below the nose.
• Dahlia – Piercings at the corners of the mouth.