Oral Health›Diet and lifestyle

Tongue and Lip Piercings: Risks and Aftercare

Mouth piercings carry more risk than many other piercings, including infection, swelling, chipped teeth and gum damage. Here are the risks, how to care for a piercing, the signs of infection and when to get urgent help.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·7 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • Mouth piercings can cause infection, swelling, bleeding, chipped or cracked teeth, gum damage and, less often, nerve damage.
  • Dental bodies in the UK and US advise against oral piercings. If you have one, good aftercare lowers the risks.
  • Signs of infection include swelling, pain, heat, redness, pus or feeling unwell. Get medical advice promptly and leave the jewellery in unless a doctor tells you to remove it.
  • Swelling that makes it hard to breathe is an emergency.
  • Tell your dentist about any mouth piercing, and see them if it causes pain or damage.

Oral piercings include piercings of the tongue, lips and cheeks. The Oral Health Foundation says they carry a far greater risk than some piercings elsewhere on the body, because they are harder to care for and more prone to infection. It does not recommend them, and the American Dental Association (ADA) also advises against them. If you have a piercing or are thinking about one, here is how to lower the risks.

What are the risks?

  • Infection. The mouth is full of bacteria, so a piercing is a wound at risk of infection, and touching the jewellery adds to the risk (Oral Health Foundation, Better Health Channel). The Better Health Channel (Victoria) says oral piercings are a possible route for blood-borne infections such as hepatitis B and C and HIV. The Oral Health Foundation and the ADA also mention endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart's lining or valves, which can happen if mouth bacteria get into the bloodstream.
  • Swelling and pain. These are common. In severe cases, the ADA and the Oral Health Foundation say a swollen tongue can block the airway.
  • Bleeding. The tongue has a rich blood supply. The Oral Health Foundation says a punctured blood vessel during tongue piercing can cause heavy bleeding that may be hard to control.
  • Chipped or cracked teeth. Biting on the jewellery or clicking it against your teeth can chip, crack or scratch them, and can damage fillings and crowns (ADA, Better Health Channel). The Oral Health Foundation says this is especially easy when a piercing is new.
  • Gum damage. The jewellery can injure the gums and make them recede (pull back from the teeth). The Better Health Channel says this leaves the tooth root more exposed to decay, and that people with oral piercings have a greater risk of gum disease.
  • Nerve damage. The ADA says a piercing can cause a numb tongue from nerve damage. This is usually temporary but can sometimes be permanent, and may affect taste or how you move your mouth. The Better Health Channel adds that ongoing nerve pain can occur.
  • Allergy. The ADA says allergic reactions to metals are possible, and the Better Health Channel suggests asking for jewellery without nickel if you are prone to allergies or have eczema or dermatitis.
  • Swallowing or breathing in jewellery. Loose jewellery is a choking hazard, and if swallowed or breathed in it can cause internal injury (Better Health Channel, Oral Health Foundation).
  • Everyday effects. A tongue piercing can make chewing, swallowing and speaking harder and cause extra saliva (Better Health Channel, ADA).

How common are problems?

healthdirect Australia says most piercings done by a skilled body artist heal well without complications. For mouth piercings, the ADA reports a systematic review (a study that combines the results of earlier studies) that found gum recession in up to 50% of people with lip piercings and 44% of people with tongue piercings, and tooth damage in 26% of people with tongue piercings.

Before you get a piercing

If you decide to go ahead, the Oral Health Foundation, the NHS and the Better Health Channel advise choosing an experienced piercer whose premises are licensed or registered with the local council, using only sterile needles and jewellery, and never piercing yourself.

The Better Health Channel says some people should avoid piercings because of a higher risk of infection or complications. These include people taking blood-thinning medicines (anticoagulants) or medicines that weaken the immune system, people having chemotherapy, and people with heart valve disease or a history of rheumatic fever. If any of these apply, talk to your doctor first. The ADA suggests talking to your dentist too.

Which jewellery?

The sources look at this differently. The Better Health Channel says surgical steel, titanium and gold of 18 carats or more are best for a new piercing, because they can be sterilised easily. The ADA notes that studies have found jewellery made of synthetic (plastic-type) materials carries lower levels of bacteria than steel or titanium.

Are there age rules?

Rules depend on where you live:

  • Wales: it is illegal to pierce the tongue of anyone under 18, even with a parent's permission. The Welsh Government counts the tongue as an intimate piercing under the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017.
  • Scotland: under the 2006 licensing order, licensed piercing premises must display a notice that they will not pierce a child under 16 unless a parent (or someone with parental responsibility) comes along and gives written consent.
  • Victoria, Australia: the Better Health Channel says a piercer must get written consent from a parent or guardian before piercing anyone under 16. It says laws differ between Australian states and territories.

How to care for a new mouth piercing

The Better Health Channel says oral piercings can take up to two months to heal. During that time:

  • Rinse after meals. The sources differ slightly. The NHS suggests salty water or an alcohol-free mouthwash, and the Better Health Channel warm salty water (a quarter of a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water). The Oral Health Foundation suggests an antibacterial mouthwash, but says you may be told to avoid alcohol-based rinses at first.
  • Keep brushing twice a day (Better Health Channel, ADA).
  • Wash your hands before touching the piercing (Oral Health Foundation, Better Health Channel), and try not to play with it or click it against your teeth (ADA).
  • Do not smoke while it heals (Better Health Channel).
  • Avoid chewing gum while it heals (Oral Health Foundation), and do not have oral sex until it has healed (NHS).

The ADA also advises checking now and then that the jewellery is tight (with clean hands), so it is less likely to come loose and be swallowed. It also advises taking the jewellery out for sport and wearing a mouthguard.

Should you take the jewellery out?

The advice depends on the stage. The Better Health Channel says not to remove jewellery before the wound has fully healed. The Oral Health Foundation suggests removing oral piercings regularly for thorough cleaning. If you think the piercing is infected, the NHS and the Better Health Channel both say to leave the jewellery in until a doctor advises otherwise.

What are the signs of infection?

The NHS says a new piercing may be tender, itchy and slightly red for the first few weeks, and may produce a pale fluid that forms a crust. This is normal.

Your piercing might be infected if, according to the NHS:

  • the area around it is swollen, painful, hot or very red (or darker, depending on your skin colour)
  • blood or pus (white, green or yellow) is coming out of it
  • you feel hot, cold or shivery, or generally unwell

The ADA adds fever, chills, shaking, and red streaks around the piercing. An infected piercing may need antibiotics (NHS, Better Health Channel).

Tell your dentist

The ADA says jewellery can get in the way of dental care by blocking X-rays, and advises regular dental visits. The Oral Health Foundation says to see your dentist straight away if a piercing causes pain or problems, rather than waiting for your next check-up.

When to see a dentist
  • You have chipped, cracked or scratched a tooth, or damaged a filling, on your jewellery.
  • Your gums look like they are pulling back from your teeth, or your teeth have become sensitive.
  • Your tongue or lip feels numb, or your sense of taste has changed.
Get help urgently
  • Swelling that affects your breathing. The Oral Health Foundation says to go to A&E (the emergency department) if you have any difficulty breathing. A very swollen tongue can block the airway (ADA).
  • Heavy bleeding that will not stop. The Oral Health Foundation advises staying calm, pressing firmly on the area and tipping your head forward so you do not swallow blood. Go to A&E if it bleeds heavily and does not stop.
  • Signs of infection. The NHS says to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you think your piercing might be infected. The ADA says to contact your dentist or doctor immediately.
  • Swallowed or inhaled jewellery. The Better Health Channel says this can cause internal injury and difficulty breathing. Any difficulty breathing needs A&E.

Frequently asked questions

Can a tongue piercing damage my teeth?

Yes. The ADA and the Better Health Channel say teeth can chip or crack on mouth jewellery, fillings and crowns can be damaged, and the gums can recede.

Should I take my piercing out if I think it is infected?

No, not unless a doctor tells you to. The NHS and the Better Health Channel both advise leaving the jewellery in and getting medical advice.

Do I need to tell my dentist about my piercing?

Yes. The ADA says jewellery can block dental X-rays, and your dentist can check your teeth and gums for damage.

Sources

  1. Oral piercings, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026
  2. Oral piercing/jewelry, American Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  3. Safe Smiles: oral piercings, Oral Health Foundation, accessed September 2026
  4. Piercings, Better Health Channel (Victoria), accessed September 2026
  5. Infected piercings, NHS, accessed September 2026
  6. Body piercings and tattoos, healthdirect Australia, accessed September 2026
  7. Information for children and young people under 18, and their parents/guardians, on the new law on intimate piercing, Welsh Government, accessed September 2026
  8. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Order 2006, Schedule, paragraph 5, legislation.gov.uk, accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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