Lip piercing is commonly called a 'labret.' People with this type of piercing are more likely to develop receding gums in the front bottom teeth, where the stud of the piercing rubs against the gums. The stud or barbell acts as a mechanical trauma hitting the gums, which eventually causes problems.
When gums recede, you can become prone to disease in the future. The recession creeps down the teeth, exposing the root. This makes teeth ultra-sensitive to cold and more susceptible to cavities. If people have an uneven gum line, it's harder for them to brush and clean their teeth, putting them at risk for plaque deposit, which can cause long-term problems like gingivitis.
The longer people wear the piercing, the worse the gum recession is. It can cause the loss of teeth that are otherwise healthy.
The health risks are uncontrollable or prolonged bleeding, scarring, keloids or hepatitis B and C. You may also develop tetanus skin allergies to the jewelry, abscesses or boils (collections of pus that can form under your skin at the site of the piercing). You can also have inflammation and/or nerve damage.
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Lip piercing
Learn what to watch for when getting a piercing.
 
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Some organizations won't accept blood donations from anyone who has had a body piercing or tattoo within the last year because both procedures can transmit blood-borne diseases or infections like HIV.
When the swelling has gone down after a lip piercing, switch to a smaller barbell. Choose a barbell that is not going to hit your gum or teeth. Use only high-quality jewelry. It is also a good idea to ask about the types of jewelry the shop offers because some people have allergic reactions to some types of metals.
Before you get a piercing, make sure you know if you're allergic to certain metals or not. About 15 percent of people have nickel allergies. Only non-toxic metals should be used for body piercing like surgical steel, solid 18-karat gold or better, niobium, titanium and platinum. Taking the stud or ring out at nighttime to minimize the irritation is desirable.
Good brushing and oral hygiene is always helpful, but there's no way people can prevent recession if they wear an object that constantly rubs up against their gum line.
Check that the piercing shop is clean and that the person doing the piercing washes his or her hands with a germicidal soap. The person doing the piercing should wear fresh disposable gloves (like those worn at a doctor's office). He or she should also use disposable or sterilized instruments. The person doing the piercing should not use a piercing gun, they're not considered to be sterile.
Also, the needle used should be new and being used for the first time. The needle should also be disposed of in a special sealed container after the piercing. Seek medical attention at the first sign of infection or skin reaction. This will help to reduce serious complications of body piercing.
