Pierce pressure.

Your parents refuse to let you get your tongue pierced? You'll thank them someday. We're all for self-expression, but the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry has issued a warning that tongue and lip piercings cause health and dental problems. How so? Let us count the ways: 1) chipped, cracked or fractured front teeth that can only be repaired with fillings or crowns, 2) infection that easily spreads throughout the body, 3) risk of disease, such as hepatitis, 4) blood loss from broken vessels, 5) irreversible nerve damage, 6) barbells wearing away at gums, which can lead to tooth loss, 7) scars, cysts and a second tongue, a large lump adjacent to the piercing. Now that's a mouthful. AACD President Dr. Marry Zase says "If someone is considering an oral piercing she should consult a dental professional more making the decision."