t tongue splitting: health.

A growing fad has tongues hissing. It involves splitting the tongue to create a forked, lizard-like look. But before you consider going reptilian, "There are serious risks involved," warns Matt Messina, of the American Dental Association.

The tongue is a muscle, and one of its purposes is to move food around efficiently. "A split tongue can't pinpoint as well," says Messina. "You'll have a hard time chewing and swallowing." Also, when you speak, you position the tip of your tongue in different spots behind the teeth to produce a range of sounds. "Air may leak through a divided tongue. You may develop a speech problem," he adds.

The tongue contains major arteries and veins. If you don't seek a medical professional to perform the surgery, you risk infections. "Your tongue may swell. You may not be able to breathe through your mouth," says Messina. "And that's one serious problem." Worse, you may suffer excessive bleeding and nerve damage.

So far, Illinois has banned the practice. Critics argue the ban violates the right to serf-expression. Messina says, "Think hard and speak to your dentist first. It's a lifelong decision."