Invisible braces could be needed by people with tongue piercings, after a new study has shown they could suffer from gapped teeth.

Academics from the research-intensive University at Buffalo, New York, have discovered that playing with a stud and pushing it around the mouth can lead to the need for cosmetic dentistry.

Assistant professor of orthodontics at the university’s School of Dental Medicine Sawsan Tabbaa said that the force will obviously lead to changes in the mouth.

“It makes perfect sense that constant pushing of the stud against the teeth every day with no break will move them or drive them apart,” she added.

The study looked at a 26-year-old woman with a barbell-shaped tongue stud, who had not had any space between her teeth before the piercing.

Seven years later, she needed braces to correct the damage.

Dr Tabbaa warned people to avoid tongue piercing, as it also carries a risk of haemorrhage and chipped teeth, which could lead to emergency dentistry.