The New Brunswick Dental Society is warning people about the potential risks of lip, tongue or cheek piercing, which it says can damage teeth and lead to serious infections.

The society said Wednesday damaged enamel is not the only problem that piercing can cause.

"Mouth piercing can be very dangerous. Obviously you're piercing into blood tissues, and the mouth is full of bacteria, and these bacteria can get into the bloodstream and infect other organs in your body," said Conrad Sirois, a dentist in Bathurst.

But for Bathurst resident Jimmy Tremblay, 15, the potential risks aren't much of a deterrent.

"They have a point. But I don't really care," he said.

Tremblay just got his blue stud a couple of months ago. He likes it, even though he agrees it's hurting his teeth.

"There's a piece missing off my bottom tooth, and I have really sensitive teeth since I pierced my lip. I don't know — I like my lip piercing," he said.

Bathurst High School student Angie Aubie got rid of her lip ring after it damaged two of her bottom teeth.

"I took it out because it was chipping my teeth. When it's in my mouth, I keep playing with it, and it just keeps grinding down or something like that," Aubie said.

A small hole under her bottom lip where she used to have a piercing is still visible.

"There's a hole, like where the ring is when I chew on it," she said.