Nifty stuff

Airfare Watchdog

Just thought this was interesting.

Tongue Piercings:

Dentists who treat teenagers are becoming accustomed to seeing more patients with jewelry inside and around the mouth, the article notes. Most mouth jewelry takes the form of removable studs, hoops or barbell-shaped devices that are purchased commercially. Dentists are often the first to note any harmful effects resulting from the piercing process or the jewelry itself, such as fractures or cracks in the tooth structures caused by a metallic barbell stud. Additional negative effects include:

* pain
* post-placement swelling
* prolonged bleeding
* gum injury
* permanent numbness
* loss of taste
* oral hygiene problems

In addition, piercing has been identified by the National Institutes of Health as a possible vehicle for transmission of hepatitis B, C, D and G, and HIV.

Body piercers are not members of the medical profession

In one case, a teen with a heart defect did not take any preventive antibiotics before the piercing and was unaware of the possible complications of the procedure and its association with the heart defect. The article points out that the needle inserted through the tongue during piercing may have allowed bacteria to enter the bloodstream, resulting in an infection in the heart.

Lip Piercings:
Article

Scary.