Question 12. The Aesthetics of Piercing

Dear 21st Century Dad, when my daughter was in the bathroom her MSN screen posted a note asking her when she was getting her tongue pierced. When she came downstairs, I immediately questioned her about it. She flew into a rage that I was invading her privacy and wouldn’t discuss it. There’s no way I’ll let her get her tongue pierced. How do I tell her no?

Dear Private Piercing,
Let’s keep this conversation focused on the piercing, rather than our daughter’s complaint about her invasion of privacy. And let’s be careful. A forceful “No Way!” based on fear and guttural reaction often is a “YES I’M DOING IT ANYWAYS” to a determined teen.

Here’s some background information on piercing. If we change the name from piercing to getting body jewellery, would the less exhibitionistic among us still consider the process odious? Sophisticated cultures such as the Romans and the Sioux pierced. In ours, entertainment mentors such as Christina Aguilera. Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Axl Rose, Tommy Lee and Lars Ulrich pierce. Our teens pierce their ears, eyebrows, cheeks, lips, nose, navel, and tongue, and yes, even their nipples penis, labia, and clitoris.

Piercing is a medical concern. Christine Botchway BDS, LDSRCS(Eng.), DDPHRCS(Eng.), MSC writes in the Canadian Dental Association 1998 that tongue piercing may damage dentition, cause aspiration, infection, speech impediments and nerve damage. Oversized barbells can fracture teeth and wear off the enamel.

Dr. Botchway has a list of should do’s before our daughter entertains piercing. The most obvious is to know that epilepsy or an immuno-compromised status (HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis) will compromise any bleeding tendencies of piercing.

Next, we can find out if the piercing establishment has been health code checked? Phone the local health board. We want this place cleaner than clean. We can involve our daughter in both the medical and the regulatory search for information. Is there more than one store that pierces in our town?

Is the place relaxed enough to welcome parental discussion about piercings? Ask about the technician’s experience. We wouldn’t want just anyone picking a sliver out of our finger. Painful!!! So why would we want someone with only a week’s experience sticking a barbell through our daughter’s tongue? Piercing is an unregulated profession. Anyone can set up shop.

After our daughter has cooled out about the invasion of her privacy, we might discuss the aesthetic issue that concerns body jewellery. Whose body is it we are talking about? Our body, or hers? Being it’s our daughter’s body, her body jewelery is her own concern, not ours.

Google:
1. The Need for Standardization of Practice Among Tongue Piercers + Christine Botchway for a detailed discussion of cheek, lips and tongue piercing.
2. piercing in images.
3. <[PDF] PHI 082 0240 Body Piercing>

Key into YouTube:
1. Monroe Piercing. Check out the other videos if you are not squeamish.