Tongue Piercing Infections

It seems that tongue piercing is slowly becoming more popular than ever... and correspondingly, there seems to be even more tongue infections than ever before due to the piercing.

If tongue piercing MUST happen, it is recommended that you avoid studs made of metal which increases the risk of infection, at least according to a recent study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

The study demonstrated that studs made of steel might promote the development of a bacterial biofilm leading to increased risk of infection whereas those made of polytetrafluoroethylene or polypropylene are inert to such bacterial colonization.

I should also add that metal studs may cause an allergic reaction leading to painful tongue swelling/itching, especially in those with metal allergies. This is similar to the skin reactions that some people experience with cheap metal jewelry.


Reference:
Tongue piercing: the impact of material on microbiological findings. J Adol Health online, 2011

We Now Offer Sterile Ear Piercing Using Lab-Tested, Hypoallergenic, Packaged & Sealed Earring Studs

Our office offers ear piercing by a doctor to patients in a manner superior to that obtained in most commerical locations. The ear piercings we provide are:

• Performed in a sterile manner (numbing offered as well)
• Ear studs placed are hypoallergenic
• Ear piercing system used has been laboratory tested, packaged, and sealed
• Hypoallergenic studs and clasps are individually sealed with disposable earpiercer - avoiding any concern of cross contamination

Better yet, we can perform this procedure at the same time as ear tube placement as well as any other surgical procedures including tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy! If your child is going to be under anesthesia, what better time to place earrings as well!

If awake, we do offer EMLA numbing cream prior to piercing (which reduces the pain by about 50%) or freezing with an ice cube.

Read more here as well as to see what earring studs are available.