For some, body piercing is a form of personal expression. But, body artists say if the work is not performed in the right setting or cared for properly, those piercings can cause big problems.

Just like piercing your ears, oral piercing has become a new form of expression. But unlike other body art, dentists say piercing your tongue can be a much bigger health risk.
In fact, the American Dental Association opposes the practice.

Some dentists say that, although tongue piercings are usually safe once they've healed, the healing process can take months and it's a dangerous time for infection.

They say the tongue is rich in blood vessels, making it easy for infections to travel to vital organs.

"One in four people who have congenital heart problems, one in four will get heart disease out of tongue piercing so that's pretty serious," dentist Dr. Greg Leonardson said.

And he says that's not the only risk. Tongue piercings can impair eating and drinking or change your speech patterns.
They also can lead to drooling or cause permanent numbness of the tongue.

Still, for those set on getting a piercing there are ways to lower the risks. Body artists say piercings must be done in a sterile, reputable environment but afterwards preventing infection is up to the customer.

"If it's done properly and you take care of it properly, it'll heal in the right amount of time and you'll have a nice piercing," body artist Veronica Swanson said.

She says before getting a piercing customers should make sure the studio looks clean and displays a state license.