To teens and young adults, an oral piercing looks like an expression of personal style, but to dentists, it looks a potential health risk. All oral piercings, whether through the lip, tongue, or cheek, run some risck of harming an individual's oral and overall health. Some potential complications from oral piercings include: swelling of the tongue, damage to sublingual salivary glands, aspiration, damage to teeth and gums, nerve damage, and infection.

 Individuals considering an oral piercing should be encourage to discuss these potential complications with their dentists beforehand. Those who already have an oral piercings should schedule routine dental exams to check for problems and should follow any in-home care instructions provided by their dentist and/or physician.