We all like to have the freedom to express ourselves and live our best lives. However, lifestyle choices such as dipping, smoking, and tongue piercing can lead to health issues that will affect your confidence and dampen your happiness.
If you are thinking of getting a tongue piercing or trying out a stick of cigarette or dip, then read this article. It’s all you need to change your mind and maintain your pristine white teeth and bright smile.
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Receding Gums from Tongue Piercing
With any lip piercing, tongue piercing, or mouth piercing, foreign metals have a stationary position in the mouth. This metal can then cause several health complications. This ranges from mild gum recession to serious oral health issues. Such problems include:
- Pain, swelling, and infection: The tongue is a moist organ, which makes it an ideal environment for bacteria and plaque to thrive. Tongue piercing increases the chance of infection even if it’s done in a sterile environment. Oral piercing can block the airways, making breathing difficult and may lead to swelling of the tongue and pain.
- Bad Breath: Bad breath is often a sign of gum recession. Mouth jewelry gives plaques and bacteria a new place to hide. And since it’s difficult to brush around rings or studs in the lips and tongue, plaques will accumulate over time. This in turn leads to bad breath. To avoid this, clean your tongue piercing thoroughly and regularly. Also, brush and floss often.
- Receding Gums: According to reports, persons who have had oral piercings for four years and above tend to have receding gums. This occurs as a result of the constant movement of the tongue piercing against the teeth and gum. This causes exposed roots and ultimately receding gums. While lip piercing damages the gum line in front of the lower teeth, tongue piercing affects the tooth root behind the front lower teeth.
- Periodontal diseases: If left untreated, damage from tongue piercing can lead to periodontitis. This describes a condition when the inner layers of the tissue and bone in the mouth pull away from the teeth. It leaves pockets and gaps which causes the tooth to become loose and soft tissue and eventually leads to tooth loss.
Receding Gums from Smoking
People who smoke heavily are likely to suffer from receding gums, gingivitis, and other oral health issues. Inhaling tobacco products releases the ingredients in them. It then sticks to the gum and teeth. This causes tartar to form, a condition that either blocks the gum lines or chips them off. This then leads to gum recession.
Also, smoking decreases saliva flow which causes harm to the gum over time. Saliva contains essential minerals needed to keep healthy gum and teeth. But when it decreases (as is the case with smoking), then diseases will set in.
To avoid this, brush your teeth regularly with the best toothpaste for receding gums and the best toothbrush for receding gums, and avoid tobacco products and smoking. Also, adopt healthy dental care habits. In addition, talk to a dentist, who will make suggestions that may include deep cleaning, scaling, root planing, and gum surgery to get your gum back in order.
Receding Gums from Dipping
Dipping involves placing tobacco between the inner cheek and gum and the lower lip and then sucking it to absorb the nicotine. While it doesn’t involve inhaling tobacco directly, it’s still harmful in several ways. The regular use of dips can increase your chances of developing gum disease, and receding gums, and can lead to tooth loss.
According to a 2016 study, people who smoke and those who dip stand high chances of developing gum disease. Another research links smokeless tobacco to receding gums.
Conclusion
Before going for that tongue piercing, reaching for that stick of cigarette or pot of dip, think of your pearly white teeth and bright smile and how much they mean to you. This will help you avoid unhealthy habits that could lead to dental problems and ultimately prevent gum disease. Have a nice day and keep smiling!
Dr Michael Jones is the proud founder of The Toothbrush Expert. He has been working as a dentist for 21 years now. Besides his work as a dentist, Michael wants to help people to find the right dental products. His goal is to provide everyone with honest expert reviews on all kinds of dental care products.
