At BJS we are used to hearing alarmist claims about the danger of body piercings and today is no different – a study from the University at Buffalo claims that tongue bars damage teeth. They have released a report based on a single patient, resulting in many high profile news websites plastering their front pages with unsubstantiated claims that tongue piercings lead to tooth damage, brain abscesses and expensive dental work.
Unfortunately for said news websites the University at Buffalo study is not representative of the majority experience (hands up everyone with tongue piercings and healthy teeth!), responsible piercing aftercare or modern tongue studs. Basically the report concerns a 26 year old woman who has developed a gap in her teeth due to playing with her metal barbell for 7 years.
University at Buffalo Claims Tongue Bars Damage Your Teeth
My main objection to this story is that it is the experience of one person and that some basic piercing advice could have prevented her problems – if she did not have access to such advice or a good piercer, then that is another issue. The story offers no statistics on the supposed link between tongue piercing and tooth damage, so all we have is one individual who had a bad experience.
