Tongue Piercing in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: Despite the putative association of tongue piercing with localized recession on the lingual aspect of mandibular incisors, there are no studies examining the potential associations between piercing, lingual recession, and other factors known to contribute to gingival recession development. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine such associations.

Methods: Young adults (age 18-35) with midline barbell type tongue piercing were recruited. Subjects received clinical examination and answered questionnaire. Probing depth (PD), gingival recession prevalence, extent and severity (RD), plaque and gingival index (PlI, GI) were recorded for the six mandibular anterior teeth.

Results: 75 subjects (19 males, 56 females, mean age 24) who, on average, had the piercing for 5 years, were recruited; data from 72 subjects were used in the analyses. When the lingual aspect was compared to the buccal aspect, gingival recession prevalence (lingual: 72%; buccal: 8%), extent (lingual: 1.6 sites, buccal: 0.2 sites), and severity (lingual RD = 1 mm, buccal RD = 0 mm) were significantly greater on the lingual aspect (p<0.0001). When subjects with lingual recession were compared to those without, subjects with recession were older (mean age 24 vs. 22, p=0.01) and had the piercing longer (5 y vs. 2 y, p<0.0001). PlI, GI, history of orthodontic treatment, toothbrushing habits, and barbell characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. 88% of current smokers had lingual recession, compared to 60% of non-smokers (p<0.01).

Conclusions: Length of time pierced, age, and smoking are associated with lingual recession in subjects with tongue piercing.