Tongue Piercing

Posted on October 11, 2007 in Uncategorized

Tongue piercing is the most common and popular form of piercing. In fact it is not a new practice. It is being practiced since ages. Tongue piercing was a common ritual among people of ancient Aztecs and Mayas of Central America. Haida, Kwakiutul, and Tlinglit tribes who belong to American Northwest also used to practice tongue piercing. In their rituals they used to pierce the tongue to draw blood to propitiate the gods.

How Tongue Piercing is Done?

Tongue piercing is not a painful task as tongue is a striated muscle, so the needle just slips in between these striations. The tongue do swells up after piercing but regains its original form after few days. Tongue is first pierced with the long barbell; after the swelling subsides it is replaced by a proper size barbell. Usually tongue has a dimple in the front region and it is considered to be the perfect place for piercing. After piercing you won’t be able to talk or eat solid food properly for some days. This sometimes may lead to short time depressions. You need to plan your tongue piercing time according to your job requirements, big weekends or vacations.

Tongue Piercing Jewelry

Barbell is the most common type of jewelry used for tongue piercing. These barbells are available in colored plastic, gold plated surgical steel and surgical steel. After the tongue is healed, the long barbell can be replaced by small balls, tongue retainers or labret studs. There is a large variety of jewelry options for tongue piercing. You can go for jewelry like large or small balls in gemstone, UV that glows in the dark, glitter, colored Acrylic, surgical steel and gold plated surgical steel. If you want to hide your tongue piercing then you can try flat top, painted in flesh colored.

Healing after Tongue Piercing

It takes around 2 weeks to heal tongue piercing. Usually it is difficult to develop any infection as saliva contains anti-bacterial enzymes. Overuse of mouthwashes with astringent may neutralize these enzymes hence turning the tongue brown or green. If it occurs it is advised to reduce the mouthwash quantity you are using. You would observe slight swelling on the day of piercing, but the worst swelling would appear between 2-6 days after piercing. During this time you would find your tongue to be very uncoordinated and may also find difficulty while talking.

Aftercare for Tongue Piercing

• For the first 3-5 days you are advised to eat soft and mashed food. Best food for you would be juices, shakes and yogurts. You can also take vitamin supplements to boost up your immune system. Baby food is the best choice during this phase.
• Once you start with solid food eating, be careful that you don’t bite the long barbell. There are chances of barbell biting which may result in chipping or splitting of your tooth. So be careful while eating solid food.
• You can try using anti-inflammatory or anti-bacterial throat lozenges after meals or several times a day. These would help in faster healing of your tongue.
• It is advisable to rinse your mouth with warm salty water after meals or many a times in a day. This would promote the healing process.
• Eat lot of cold foods like frozen yogurts, ice creams, small ice blocks or crushed ice this would help you in pain and swelling reduction.
• It is better to change from longer barbell to shorter stem after at least 10 days to avoid your tongue to swell up again.
• Use a soft tooth brush to remove plaque formed on the jewelry during the healing phase.
• Once in a week with clean hands check that the jewelry is screwed up tight.
• Every morning first drink chilled water; this would help in alleviating your swelling.
• Don’t talk much in your initial days of piercing as excess movement may cause the barbell to wound your tongue.
• During the healing phase avoid taking hot foods like soup, coffee or tea; this would increase your pain. Try and avoid spicy food as this main increase swelling.
• Avoid playing with the piercing during the initial phase of healing as this may delay the healing process and may also lead to scar formation.
• Do not replace the jewelry during the healing phase as reinsertion of the jewelry might be painful.
• Do not remove the jewelry as the hole closes quickly.
• Do not put dirty things in your mouth like pens or fingernails.
• Refrain yourself from oral sex for the initial 15 days, including kissing your partner.

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Comments

4 Responses to “Tongue Piercing”

1. Kassie Says:
   February 9th, 2008 at 7:16 pm

   I was told to stay away from dairy products, like milk, cheese, and yogurt because of the yeast and bacteria in them.
   I also suggest biotene as a mouth wash, it is alcohol free and doesnt burn at all. Its great for oral infections and tongue peircings.

2. Keesha Says:
   February 22nd, 2008 at 4:08 pm

   I want to get my tongue done but I have seizures and my mom is afraid that getting my tongue done will cause a seizure. I was wounder if there is any possibility that it will? I really want my tongue done, I was hoping you could tell me if it will cause a seizure or not?
   Thanks,
   Keesha Kennedy

3. Kim Says:
   March 28th, 2008 at 8:52 pm

   Any one who is concerned after their tongue is Pierced, Dont worry that much!
   i just got my tongue pierced a week ago, and so far so good. about an hr after gettiing it done, i tried to eat solids. DONT BOTHER.. drink water and eat Ice. later in the evening, i tried to eat Solids again, i did it, but it took an hr and 1/2. but it was good. Rinse with Original listerine, and an OTC salt rinse and Brush teeth. The swelling went on for a few days, where i wanted to just take it out and rid myself of it. I chose to take ibuprofen. It helped. ALOT. this went on for a few days, constantly rinsing, and brushing. Its now day 6. I havent changed the post in it yet, i am getting alot of pussy gross stuff.. but its normal. take a Q-tip and dip it in mouth wash and clean away the puss in a upward motion. I can eat solids, tho i take my time, making sure not to grab the post, i find i do alot of sucking while eating. It helps. Salt rinses help. i havent really had any dairy products. just in case of bacteria.. but i do smoke.. alot. so everytime i smoke, i make sure to rinse, with mouthwash and again with the salt water. i used original listerine, not watered down @ first.. but it burned.. so i did some more reading, and it said to dilute.. so i started to dilute it more.. to me it did the same thing. So i decided to buy the mint flavor listerine.. ALOT better. and doesnt burn.. maybe in 2-3 days i will change the barbell to something smaller. i just wanted to take my time with my new addition. I can pretty much talk normally now, slight lisp. no swelling.

4. Bella Says:
   August 22nd, 2008 at 3:48 pm

   hi i’m from saint lucia(in the caribbean)and i had mine done two weeks ago it was painful but i wanted it so badly, i just hope i am able to chang the post to a shorter one soon

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