Tongue piercings are not for the faint of heart, and honestly, kudos to anyone who gets them. The first concern, of course, is how you eat after you get the piercing.

Types of Oral Piercing Jewelry The jewelry that is worn after an oral piercing is generally made of metals such as steel, titanium or niobium, however, polymers or glass can also be used.

5 questions about how oral piercings might affect health Updated: Sep. 23, 2010, 5:00 a.m. | Published: Sep. 23, 2010, 4:00 a.m.

Fit also matters. Make sure you’re getting the right size jewelry for your mouth. It can take up to six weeks for an oral piercing to heal correctly. In that time, proper home care is key: ...

"The mouth is full of many different types of bacteria, meaning that any invasive procedure such as an oral piercing carries a risk of infection when it is performed—a piercing may also become a ...

The CDA said that it recognizes that in today's society many people use body piercing as a type of self-expression. However, people should be aware of the potential drawbacks, according to CDA ...

For some, the oral piercing may look cool, while for others, it becomes a reason for pain and suffering. "If it is done in a proper way, following the protocol, it might not affect oral health.