A DENTIST in East Lancashire today issued an urgent warning over the perils of tongue piercing.

Dr Geoff Garnett, who has a practice in Oswaldtwistle, said the growing trend could harm general and oral health.

Dr Garnett is a former president of the British Dental Association (BDA) which has also warned people about the dangers of tongue piercing.

The BDA said tongue studs endangered people's health because they were close to the airway and if they came loose, there was a risk that they could be swallowed.

Severely infected piercings have been reported as causes of septicaemia and toxic shock syndrome. If piercing equipment is not sterile, infections like HIV or hepatitis B or C could even be passed between the customer and the piercer. Dr Garnett said: "The tongue is the last bit of the body to think about piercing because of the risk of infection.

"The mouth is not a healthy place because of gum infections and dental decay. It is not a clean place.

"There is also the danger of an allergic response to the metal.

"We have got to accept that kids are going to have it done, but the message would be to take care."

Dr Geoff Craig, chairman 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.

"If people insist on having piercings, they should ensure that the piercer sterilises the equipment properly using a device called an autoclave - and that the stud is made of gold, surgical steel or titanium."

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