VANITY: Tongue Piercings, Pros and cons

A concerned mother

[HairOfTheDog]

I think it looks gross, what are you hiring her to do?

[republicangel]

I think it's gross, too. It's my daughter and we are having major problems here at the homestead.

[riley1992]

It depends entirely upon the position. If it is a customer service related one where she has continual contact with the public, probably not. Otherwise, I would give her the job if she was qualified.

[HairOfTheDog]

It is your daughter? Has she done it already? - or is she trying to get you to agree with it?

Well, tell her to never expect to get a decent job or to be threated like a lady. She will look like a young slut. (being harsh for her benefit, not to offend you) Find out about the origins of why tongue piercings started, if you don't know.

[republicangel]

Thanks for your response. She's hard-headed. Can't imagine where she got that from ;-)
I've told her how I feel....I can only hope she thinks this through.

[republicangel]

My daughter. Having it done Saturday . No offense taken. I've already said these things to her, trust me.

[Savage Beast]

I probably would not. It suggests everything I would not want in an employee.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Health

Tongue piercing 'can be fatal'

Tongue piercing can be dangerous, say dentists

Tongue piercing is bad for your health and should be avoided, say dentists.

BBC News' Toby Sealey reports from a body piercing centre

The practice has become increasingly fashionable in recent years and has been made famous by stars like Scary Spice and the Princess Royal's daughter Zara Phillips.

But the British Dental Association (BDA) says tongue piercing can cause infections, speech impediments, breathing problems and broken teeth.

It says piercing always carries a risk of infection, but that risk is greater with mouth piercing because of the closeness of the airway.

Infection can cause the tongue to swell, blocking or restricting the airway.

In addition, bacteria under the tongue often spread quickly and can lead, in extreme cases, to the potentially fatal toxic shock syndrome or blood poisoning.

If piercing equipment is not sterilised, there is also the risk of infections like HIV and hepatitis being passed on.

Allergy danger

The BBC's Jonathon Kent finds dentists' reservations not shared by customers at an Oxford body piercing shop

The BDA says studs can come loose and can be swallowed or inhaled, leading to breathing problems.

And accidentally biting a tongue stud can cause teeth to crack.

There is also the possibility of a person developing an allergic reaction to a stud if it is not made from gold, titanium or surgical steel.

Scary Spice - Mel G - is one of a growing number of people to have their tongues pierced

Other potential dangers include deep cyst formation, scarring, damage to veins and nerves and neuromas - overgrowths of nerve tissue.

Some orthodontists refuse to do any work on people with pierced tongues because of its effect on muscle position and the possible risk of encouraging speech impediments.

Dr Geoff Craig, chair of the BDA's health and science policy group, said: "People having tongue piercings are putting not just their oral health, but their general health at risk - and we strongly advise people not to."

But a spokesman said: "We have to live in the real world and realise people do have their tongues pierced.

"If they do, they should make sure it is done as cleanly and hygienically as possible."

Cleaning advice

The BDA says people should ask their dentists for advice on oral hygiene while the piercing is healing.

This includes advice on brushing to avoid inflaming the tongue and the need to use mouthwash to clean the bits of the mouth which the brush cannot reach.

Dr Craig said they should also ensure that their piercer sterilises equipment properly, using a device called an autoclave.

This costs at least £1,500 so the BDA says some piercers may not use it.

The association says anyone can carry out piercings, although those who operate premises should be licensed by local environmental health departments.

The European Professional Piercers' Association (EPPA) runs a voluntary register of about 450 piercers.

This monitors standards and trading in piercing and can be contacted on 0117 9603923.

The BDA says little research has been done into the cases where tongue piercing has gone wrong, but a member of the EPPA said she thought problems were not too widespread.

One case which was published in the British Dental Journal concerned a 25-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital after her tongue swelled up and she had difficulty swallowing.

She was found to be suffering from a rare condition called Ludwig's angina which did not respond to antibiotics.

The stud was surgically removed, but the woman later collapsed. She left hospital eight days later after further treatment.

[republicangel]

Thanks for the info. I'm emailing this thread to her. If she will just read it.

[Rightwing Canuck]

If she wore it to the interview, no way in heck would I even take the interview seriously, let alone hire her. If the candidate can't show the proper respect to the employer under interview circumstances, then I wouldn't be able to trust her with my company's affairs (whatever they may be in relation to the business). Same goes for clothing - I've seen many young people lately show up in jeans or shirts hanging out, and some girls looking like they just turned tricks. Not exactly the best impression.

[HairOfTheDog]

So she doesn't live with you? Must not I guess... I was wondering why what you say doesn't rule. I misbehaved as a kid, but only in ways I may not get caught. The thought of my folks, or worse, my nice old grandmother seeing it would have stopped me from such a thing. When she is older she will realize how dumb it is. hopefully the hole grows in.

[Dan from Michigan]

The first thing that came to my mind was the old saying about girls with pierce toungues.

One word - Lewinsky. I don't think that is the reputation she wants to have. I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, and I do not know her, but that is the first impression of a pierced tongue.

[republicangel]

Unfortunately, my mom cursed me with the mother's curse.

"I hope you have a child just like yourself"

The more you say no- the more likely they are going to do it anyway.

believe it or not- she's a college republican , dean's list, no drugs or smoking and stuff like that. ( I hope this is the worst there is)

we love her so much. We don't want her to make things more difficult for herself.

[HairOfTheDog]

She is older than I was picturing. Surprising. I thought this kind of stunt would be more along the lines of a 16 year old. Good luck.

[republicangel]

Thanks so much for the help.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

I wish I could find the thread I did last year about tongue piercing deaths. Tongue piercing is just so awful. It will effect her speech, her health, her future for employment, and Dan is right, you look at a girl with a pierced tongue and you know it's a Lewinsky thing. I really hope you can talk her out of it, it's her future.

[frmrda]

Dan is right. The main reason girls get toungue piercings is to give better "Lewinsky's". Not to say everyone, or your daughter is doing it for that reason, but that is the main one. And Dan, from a guy's point of view - it does make a difference.

[Hawkeye's Girl]

Don't forget tongue cancer. I read one news story where the guy had to get his entire tongue removed.

If she won't listen to you for personal image reasons, try the health stuff. Is she willing to take the risk?

[supercat]

The only 'pro' I can see to having a tounge piercing is if a woman wants to look like a whore, or if a man wants to look like a pervert or drug addict. I would ask your daughter if she wants to look like a whore, and if so, why?