Tongue splitting and oral health

While not exactly mainstream, having one's tongue pierced is not all that unusual anymore, leaving some people who are interested in a more distinctive form of facial alteration at somewhat of a loss. This may be one reason why some look to tongue-splitting, in which the tongue is bifurcated so that the recipient of the procedure literally has a forked tongue. Long stares aside, are there any risks to this procedure with regard to one's oral health?

The answer, according to most dental professionals, is a resounding yes. First of all, there are the potential complications from the surgery itself. The tongue is a complex organ, and is involved in a whole host of activities, ranging from speech and airway management to taste and pronunciation. Any or all of these can be immediately impacted by a surgery done incorrectly, one which paralyzes the tongue or causes some other type of nerve damage. An injured nerve can affect one's sense of taste or how one moves one's mouth, while damage to some of the many blood vessels in the tongue can lead to dangerous blood loss.

The risks don't stop there. After the surgery, one is at greater risk of an infection, which could lead to a systemic bacterial infection making its way through the body, causing serious complications that could affect the heart or other organs. Also, the tongue may swell, to the extent that it could cause the airway to be blocked.

Other problems can develop even long after the surgery has taken place. Tongue-splitting can adversely affect a person's speech pattern, leaving them with a permanent lisp or an inability to make certain sounds; some may even have to relearn how to speak.

The bottom line is that tongue-splitting is a serious and risky endeavor, and not one to be embarked on on a whim. Those interested should take a good look at the pros and cons, and realize the life-long risks that are an inherent part of this procedure.

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