Most tongue piercings do not require special treatments or medications. We avoid using tertiary references. Gently apply to the affected area for up to five minutes at a time. Last medically reviewed on October 25, 2018, A tongue piercing officially takes six and eight weeks to completely heal. The cost can vary significantly depending on factors, like location, jewelry choice, and the piercing professionals experience level. A small amount of bleeding is normal, but consistent bleeding may signal a problem. Tattoo aftercare starts as soon as your tattoo is done. When you get a new piercing, youre welcoming a foreign object into your body. You can eliminate salt rinses, but be sure to stay on top of your oral health to prevent any problems. It is difficult to keep a tongue piercing clean, which further increases the risk of infection, especially during the healing process. Make it hard for your dentist to take an X-ray of your teeth . Tongue piercings especially new ones are more prone to infections than other piercings because of all the bacteria in your mouth. Check the quality of the body jewelry material to be sure the metal is crafted from high grade titanium or 14k gold. Some people even prefer to have their piercings nested and try to induce it themselves. This can help prevent the bacteria in your mouth from spreading to and getting trapped inside your piercing. Any symptoms beyond this may be a sign of infection or a poor piercing job. When that happens, she always advises going to the ER for professional help. A person might have trouble talking and adapting to the new sensation in the mouth. A tongue piercing is any body modification that involves piercing a piece of jewelry through the tongue. It doesn't suddenly transform you into a fierce person who others won't mess with just because you have a tongue piercing. You should avoid chewing on non-food items such as gum, pencils, fingernails, tobacco and sunglasses. If you dont, you will have issues with chipping your teeth, biting the jewelry, gum recession behind the teeth, and even swallowing the jewelry.. If you get a tongue piercing, the piercer will start with a larger "barbell" to give your tongue room to heal as it swells. They also note that in the state of Oregon, horizontal tongue piercings are banned for this reason. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, quarter teaspoon of iodine-free salt mixed in 8 ounces of warm water. ), chew on gum or objects that can harbor bacteria, like your fingernails or pencils, engage in any oral sexual contact, including kissing, even with a long-term partner, use alcohol, including mouthwash that contains alcohol, smoke (It can slow healing and up your risk for complications. Depends on the body's reaction. This is considered the final stretch in your tongue piercing healing process. We've sent you an email with a link to update your password. Between deciding where you want it, finding your artist, and practicing good aftercare, a lot goes into getting a tattoo. Should you use ice or heat for pain? As the name suggests, the placement of the piercing resembles a snake bite. Floss your teeth once a day. Right after your appointment, expect your tongue to be a bit swollen and painful for about one to two weeks, according to Loheide. You shouldnt have any pain or swelling at this stage, but you might find that certain foods irritate your tongue. "Things that you wouldn't [want on] a paper cut, basically, you don't want to eat the first few weeks of a tongue piercing, because it will cause serious discomfort," she says. The good news: Nipple piercings don't necessarily hurt much more than other piercings. See your piercing professional or a healthcare professional if you notice any of these: Wait until the piercings completely healed to change your jewelry. In fact, that's a good sign because your unique anatomy will dictate where you can and can't get pierced, and any reputable piercer will ensure to take that into account, Loheide shares. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25690049, http://www.cdho.org/Advisories/CDHO_Factsheet_Oral_Piercing.pdf, https://www.cieh.org/media/1975/tattoo-toolkit_part-c_03-oral-piercing-aftercare.pdf, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3926233/, https://www.safepiercing.org/docs/APP_OralMinors_Print.pdf, https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/threats-to-dental-health/tongue-piercing-not-that-risky-but-things-can-go-wrong, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2852294/. "A horizontal tongue piercing forces the jewelry through the tip of both muscles. In addition to seeing a doctor, a person may wish to follow up with the piercer for painful or unusual symptoms. Sometimes we will use a larger needle if the client requests a larger gauge piece of jewelry, but 14g is standard, says Dohoney. 3. A 20 percent tip is customary if youre happy with the service. You may also consider brushing midday to help prevent bacteria buildup. But New York City-based piercer Jenna Myers says that there tends to be a pretty big distinction between the two. We have a handy body jewelry size chart for your reference. You can cut down to twice-daily salt rinses preferably morning and night after you brush your teeth. Tongue piercings normally do swell, but standard practice is to put in a bar that is long enough to accommodate the swelling, without being overly long, which represents extra danger to your teeth. The hole wont be completely healed for several more weeks. After your tongue has healed, take the jewelry out every night and brush it the way you brush your teeth. "It's going to feel strange to talk and eat, but go slow and act . In terms of complications, there are both short and long-term consequences., Changing tongue piercings to a shorter barbell is highly recommended once it heals, says Dohoney. For those who are unfamiliar, this style typically refers to a horizontal tongue piercing at the tip of the tongue. Most infections are mild, however, and a doctor can easily treat them with oral antibiotics. Pain, tenderness, and drainage can be seen when the area is not properly cared for, says Ilyas. Anyone else inspired to get a tongue piercing right now? For initial oral piercings, the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) recommends jewelry made from implant-grade metals or 14-karat or higher gold. By this stage in the healing process, it should have become less painful and will start to feel relatively normal. During the first two weeks, you may experience: Redness or swelling that extends beyond the piercing site may be a sign of infection. It may also be tempting to take the jewelry out, but this can actually do more harm than good. However, proper aftercare and having an experienced piercing professional can significantly minimize risk. Luckily, not every tongue piercing will become infected. Some hurt much more than others, and some may have longer healing times that can be uncomfortable for months. Some people also choose to consume smoothies or other liquid foods for the first few days, until they adjust to eating with the jewelry in place. We avoid using tertiary references. An oral (mouth) piercing is a small hole in yourtongue, lip, cheek, or uvula (the tiny tissue at the back of your throat) so you can wear jewelry. Watch what you eat and drink until its fully healed, uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings, safepiercing.org/docs/APP_Troubleshooting_Print.pdf, health.clevelandclinic.org/should-you-use-ice-or-heat-for-pain-infographic/, authoritytattoo.com/infected-tongue-piercing/, goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/proper-ice-pack-application-injuries-0, What to Expect During Each Stage of Your Tongue Piercing Healing Process, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Piercing Aftercare, Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC. This would require them to stay in the hospital or receive intravenous antibiotics. 11. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As the name suggests, the placement of the piercing resembles a snake bite. A piercing is essentially a scar, and it takes time for this scar to form. The people who work in the shop have been vaccinated against. But despite the location, the aftercare for tongue piercings is actually a lot easier (and a lot less painful) than some would expect. Some symptoms of infection include: Piercings heal from the outside in, which means that the outermost tissue of the tongue heals first. Just look to hashtags #tonguepiercing and #tonguepiercings on TikTok and Instagram, which have over 790 million views and 520,000 posts, respectively. Along with the obvious risk of infection (including tetanus), tongue piercings can also lead to gum recession and chipped teeth, as well as cause choking hazards, the American Dental Association warns. This will also be a more comfortable position as the top of your piercing will be positioned in the higher part of the roof of your mouth where there is more room.The bottom of the tongue piercing should be just in front of the web-like skin under your tongue (known as the lingual frenulum). Allow your skin to dry without rinsing. Anything chewy may require an additional salt rinse after eating. Oral cleansers that contain hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, and other antibacterial ingredients can also harm healthy skin cells and slow down the healing process. You may find it easier to eat, but you should still stick with soft foods at this point. Although the bulk of your aftercare takes place within the first couple of weeks, youll need to stay on top of daily cleanings until the piercing has completely healed. Ultimately, try to not go overboard with your piercing aftercare, because that could potentially case more irritation. A properly positioned tongue piercing will be on the mid-line of your tongue (right in the middle), and placed approximately 3/4-inch back from the tip, and will likely be pierced on a diagonal with the top leaning back slightly, allowing the top ball to lean away from your teeth. Possible damage to teeth, dental work and oral structures. Face piercing (body art): Choosing pleasure vs. possible pain and posture instability. You might want to take it out before you go to, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Bird Flu Deaths Prompt U.S. to Test Vaccine in Poultry, COVID Treatment in Development Appears Promising, Marriage May Help Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check, Getting Outdoors Might Help You Take Fewer Meds, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, [ss_icon]15 Tooth Problems: Cavities, Stained Teeth, Hyperdontia and More. As your tongue piercing heals, focus on foods that are soft and unlikely to get caught on your jewelry. You shouldnt remove the jewelry during this time. Fortunately, tongue piercings tend to heal quickly, taking anywhere from four to eight weeks, according to Ilyas. 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