After working in an adolescent clinic for 8 years as a registered nurse, I learned more about life and how it is so different from when I was a raging terror.  I remember when my best friend came over and I asked her to double pierce one of my ears.  It was the 80’s -no one wanted to be symmetrical.

This was as bad as any of us teenagers attempted at body marring during that time.  No one had other piercings or tattoos.  We just went crazy with a “sterile” needle (rubbing alcohol and a cigarette lighter) and either a cork or potato behind the ear.  I’m wincing thinking of the infection I could have contracted.

But parents of today’s Teens, be forewarned!  They are MUCH more creative and tolerant of pain than we were.  Now I am not going to go into the different types of piercings that I have seen and heard of.  What I want to address is tongue piercing.

Hear me out!!!!!  Don’t let your kid do it. Anything else pierced is better medically than the tongue.  If your child is under 18, most places won’t let them get pierced without parental consent.  So you DO have a say in the matter.

Medical reasons for choosing another piercing site:

1)      The stud or barbell will over time remove the enamel on the backs of their teeth.  There is no getting this back.  Once it’s gone, it’s gone and without the strong protection of enamel many dental problems can occur.

2)      Tooth fractures or tooth loss can occur.  Dentists truly hate tongue piercings!

3)      Have you ever heard how many millions of bacteria live in the human mouth?  Can you say flaming infections?  Very difficult to keep it clean and avoid complications. Some cases of life threatening complications: from severe tongue swelling which can impede breathing to blood infections.

4)      Many organizations won’t let you donate blood if you have had a piercing in the last year, due to a potential blood-borne disease your child could have contracted from poor hygiene or technique.

5)      And finally “thpeeth impedimeths” (translation:  speech impediments).  Speech pathologists have discovered that having a tongue piercing for an extended period of time, can not only cause speech impediments while the tongue is pierced, but if there is nerve damage, it could be permanent.  THUPER, I THAY!

If your teen is still determined to tongue pierce without your permission, just let them know you are keen to the fact, the only reason for having your tongue pierced is to improve stimulation during oral sex.  Perhaps a very open parental/teen sex conversation could make them rethink their decision.  After all, what teenager wants their parents to know what they are doing outside the home?!

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