Most piercers recommend using a quarter teaspoon of iodine-free salt mixed in 8 ounces of warm water. Last medically reviewed on January 14, 2020, Sometimes, the body will reject a piercing. Apart from switching up your oral products, you may have to change what you eat, but only for a short while. From the type of tongue rings to use in your piercing (which aren't really "rings" but rather barbells), to coming up with a daily routine for cleaning your new piercing. A surface piercingalso the least common type of tongue piercingis a horizontal piercing with a curved barbell. Super hot foods should be left alone as well. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. You can expect a tiny scar over each piercing site once the tissue grows in. Healing usually takes 3 to 4 weeks. You may find it easier to eat, but you should still stick with soft foods at this point. Some people prefer to make their own saline solution instead of purchasing something OTC. However, your individual healing process depends entirely on how you care for your new piercing. What you eat matters, especially when you have a wound in this case, an infected piercing in your mouth. Once your piercer give you the OK, you can resume your normal habits. Unless your piercer says otherwise, maintain your daily cleansing and soaking routine. It doesn't suddenly transform you into a fierce person who others won't mess with just because you have a tongue piercing. Sometimes we will use a larger needle if the client requests a larger gauge piece of jewelry, but 14g is standard, says Dohoney. Oral piercings risks & safety measures. Myers notes that on a scale of one to 10, most of her client's rate standard tongue piercings between a one to three, and paired tongue piercings a three to five. Twist the new jewelrys beads until tight, and youre all set. Get the details on how you can lower your chances of developing blisters and other possible side effects. Whether you're drinking liquor like its water or jumping from an airplane (or a cliff), no matter what you're doing, you're having fun! ", Mouth Healthy (American Dental Association): "Oral Piercings. Here's what to expect. A person should see a doctor or healthcare provider if they experience any of these symptoms. By this stage in the healing process, it should have become less painful and will start to feel relatively normal. Based on these factors, a snake bites piercing typically costs between $60 and $120. "Fortunately, I was able to take the person to the operating room, remove the piercing (which was difficult because half of it became incorporated into the swollen tongue), incise the tongue, tie off a bleeding artery and well as cauterize the muscles, and then suture the tongue back together," Dr Voigt shares. Tongue piercings especially new ones are more prone to infections than other piercings because of all the bacteria in your mouth. If someone recommended cocoa butter for tattoo aftercare, you might want a second opinion. Once you get home, Loheide recommends immediately changing out your toothbrush for a new one and using milder oral hygiene products. The jewelry is pushed through behind the needle to complete the piercing process. I got my tongue pierced 8 days ago. Still, it's important to note that regardless of placement, the piercing can cause damage to the teeth and gums, according to piercer Lynn Loheide and Dr Voigt. We spoke to Josephine and other experts about tongue piercings, what they entail, and if you should get one. Some symptoms of infection include: Piercings heal from the outside in, which means that the outermost tissue of the tongue heals first. Association of Professional Piercers (APP). This means that while the piercing may look less irritated, it is actually still healing for a month or longer. We've got the details on its benefits and how to use it. Ready-made rinses may be available for purchase from your piercer, or you can make your own at home. Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT. If you notice any signs of an infection, call your piercing professional or a healthcare professional immediately. This type of tongue piercing typically takes around four to six weeks to heal, though it will depend on your anatomy and body health. Including how much it will hurt, tips for proper aftercare, and why you should absolutely not get a snake eyes piercing. Dont use cotton balls, tissues, or thin towels these can get caught in the jewelry and irritate your piercing. Even clear or white discharge is totally normal. Youll need to call your doctor if you see signs of an infection or youre experiencing severe discomfort. We avoid using tertiary references. So please take the time to create a new account for our sleek new site. 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. Because the needle is just going through connective tissue rather than cartilage or skin, theres less of a "pain" feeling, and its considered fairly tolerable. Other factors impact healing time, too, like your overall health and your piercing professionals skill level. Gently apply to the affected area for up to five minutes at a time. Though everyone's tongue is different, Loheide says if your tongue is too short or you have a tongue-tie which is basically when the webbing underneath your tongue comes almost or all the way to the tip a tongue piercing is probably not the best option for you. In general, a person can expect to experience the following stages as their tongue piercing heals: Immediately after the piercing, the wound may feel very sore and irritated. People are often concerned about infection, particularly with oral piercings because they believe the mouth to be dirty given that so many germs and bacteria can pass through the mouth through everyday activities like eating, drinking, talking and even breathing. For the frenulum linguae (aka, the little web that connects the underside of your tongue to your mouth), the piercer will pierce one barbell into the web, according to Spencer's. 3. Once thats done, here are the next steps: For sure. If a person suspects an infection, it is best to make an appointment with a doctor. "But we also want to look at the shape of someone's teeth and someone's mouth when we're deciding placement." To do so, stick out your tongue, grab the two beads on either side of the barbell, and twist until one comes off. tongue piercing nesting. All rights reserved. 11. Using a warm chamomile compress may help speed up the healing process. Barbell: A barbell is, at the basic level, a metal bar with a small bead affixed on both ends; typically one is removable and one isnt. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Once your tongue piercing has healed, youre not completely off the hook in terms of cleaning and hygiene. You might want to take it out before you go tosleep or do anything active. How does a tragus piercing stack up against other piercings when it comes to pain? We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. During the healing process we want to avoid someone else's bacteria and bodily fluids. This includes eating what you want, getting intimate, and switching out your jewelry. You may also consider brushing midday to help prevent bacteria buildup. The jewelry can cause issues as well. You have to keep the rest of your mouth clean, too. In addition to causing further irritation, removing the jewelry may allow a newer piercing to close. How Long Does It Take a Tattoo to Fully Heal? Laser Tattoo Removal Can Cause Blisters Here's Why and How to Treat Them, use a soft-bristle toothbrush for cleanings, look for signs of complications especially an infection, engage in french kissing or oral sex until the piercing has completely healed, play contact sports with your jewelry in your tongue, smoke or drink alcohol during the healing process. Body piercing troubleshooting for you and your healthcare professional. "We want to see where the blood flow is along the underside of the tongue and make sure that we're not too close to it," they explain. Tongue piercing healing process and care guide [Blog]. Myers also recommends a sterile saline solution, which tends to be recommended for most piercings. The Answer May Surprise You. The safety of the procedure itself.2. Included is detail on avoiding infection and, Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. This piercing type gets one of the cutest lip piercing names thanks to its functionality. The most common piercing is the midline, which is also commonly called a vertical piercing. That means using sterile instrument, disposable, one-time use needles, and high quality, sterile jewelry. In fact, often there is no bleeding at all, but keep in mind that everyone will have a different experience depending on the type of piercing they choose, and their personal reaction to being pierced. Steep a chamomile tea bag in warm water for two to three minutes. Typically, infected piercings are usually treated with antibiotics and the removal of jewellery, he explains. But no matter what type of tongue piercing you have(or want to get), there's something about this type of body jewelry in particular that holds a lot of meaning when it comes to your personality. When you get a new piercing, youre welcoming a foreign object into your body. This includes the tongue, lips, and cheeks. Keeping good oral hygiene practices is important in maintaining a healthy mouth and piercing.You will want to floss, brush and use mouth rinse at least twice a day. We will send you an email to reset your password. What Is This Bump on My Cartilage Piercing and What Should I Do? DOI: Malta Purim KS, et al. Before your appointment, it's imperative that you brush your teeth and tongue before arriving. Although tongue piercings are quick to heal compared to other piercings, theyre extremely vulnerable to infections. She has worked in digital media for over five years and is an expert on a range of topics, including tattoos, piercings, and culture. Changing out a tongue piercing is completely possible, and in most cases, can be done by yourself at home. All rights reserved. Here are some possible complications and side effects to watch for: Healing typically takes 23 months. For your tongue piercing to properly heal, its imperative that you follow some basic guidelines. When its ready, follow the same steps for cleansing with premade saline. Here are the piercings its safe for, how to use it, side effects to, Swelling, redness, bleeding, or bruising are typical after a new nose piercing, but a bump may be cause for concern. Theres also the horizontal tongue piercing, which runs the needle through the tongue from side to side instead of top to bottom. ", Its more like a weird pressure; it hurts more to bite your tongue, agrees Dohoney. Oral Contact. Avoid sharing food and drinks to minimize the spread of infectious bacteria. They can take a look at the piercing and make specific recommendations for cleaning and care. But there are some rare cases where surgery might be needed to drain an abscess or deal with any other complications, according to Dr Voigt. Erich P. Voigt, MD, a board-certified ear, nose, and throat doctor and director of General Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at NYU Langone Health, notes that pus, severe tongue swelling, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and difficult breathing indicate that it's time to seek out a medical professional. You should avoid chewing on non-food items such as gum, pencils, fingernails, tobacco and sunglasses. (2017). It is vital to not overuse the mouth rinse. However, theres a long list of dos and don'ts with tongue piercing aftercare. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. "It'll be two to three times the size, turning almost green or white, [with puss]." It is safest to have a piercer do this. Removing the stud too soon can increase your risk of tears and infections. The true sexual sensations come from the dichotomy of textures the softness of the tongue paired with the hardness of the piercing. A horizontal is the most painful because its done in an area where the majority of the nerves are.. But take care with spices, as these can irritate the wound. An infection is potentially serious. Common oral piercing concerns are: 1. Tongue piercing not that risky, but things can go wrong. Soak a clean cloth or sturdy paper towel with the solution. What Is This Nose Piercing Bump and How Can I Get Rid of It? Make you drool. Jewelry is made of surgical steel, solid gold, or platinum. However, the healing process can take upward of. Longer barbells allow for swelling, and should be used for new piercings and kept in until the piercing is healed, but after the healing process they should be replaced with shorter barbells to avoid damage to teeth and dental work or structures. DOI: 2. Furthermore, Mel Magazine added that your tongue piercing may represent your sexual adventurous side. Wash your hands before touching your mouth to prevent the spread of germs. Leave on for up to three minutes, and then remove. Suck on ice or apply a cold compress | Cold compress. Join our mailing list & get 10% off your first purchase. Halloran L. (2015). When properly performed and properly cared for, most body piercings will typically heal fast with minimal discomfort, swelling and bleeding. What causes a piercing rejection to occur? Feel free to reach out to your piercer if you have any questions concerning the results, aftercare, and healing time. The type of piercing you choose represents a part of you. 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. A warm compress can also minimize overall swelling and irritation. If you think youve developed an infection, your piercer isnt the right source for treatment. 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). Note that's the size of an initial tongue piercing; once healed the length of the barbell can be shortened. In general, maintaining good oral hygiene brushing your teeth regularly and flossing is important. To clean the outside of the piercing, dab sea salt on the piercing 2 to 3 times daily and wash with mild anti-microbial soap up to twice a day. Privacy Policy. Bear in mind, though, that horizontal piercings will take longer than vertical ones. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. However, the healing process can take upward of. A certain amount of "nesting" with the jewelry sinking into the tissue is to be expected. This will help prevent the strings from getting caught on your jewelry. Infection occurs when bacteria become trapped inside the piercing. Chamomile has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Steep two chamomile tea bags in freshly boiled water for five minutes. Body piercings: Cleaning and healing. Clean the area two to three times per day, 6. Ludwigs angina is an infection that can occur in your mouth. ", Center for Young Women's Health (Boston Children's Hospital): "Body Piercing. The only time you should touch it is during cleansing. According to clinical sexologist and certified sex coach Sunny Rodgers, "Tongue rings and barbells do provide additional stimulation during oral sex for all genders. You may need to throw away any products that you use while the infection is active. Be sure to keep up with your regular dental checkups over the lifetime of your piercing. If the break goes deep into yourtooth, you can lose it or need aroot canal to fix it. If you decide that you want to let the piercing close up or you just want to switch the jewelry you should wait until the infection has completely cleared. Your piercer should give you verbal and written instructions, and should explain to you the importance of cleansing, and the different cleanser options available. Regular cleansing is the best way to flush out bacteria and prevent further irritation. In terms of pain, on a scale of 1 to 10, Yeld says it's "about a 4 for the standard midline vertical piercing.". Snake Bite Piercings. (n.d.). This can trap bacteria and allow the infection to spread beyond the piercing site. Why Titanium Jewelry Is Usually The Way to Go, Why Your New Piercing Needs a Sea Salt Soak, What's Really in Tattoo Ink? (2020). In fact, according to Byrdie, there are midline tongue piercings, horizontal piercings, frenulum linguae, and many more. The name . The Whole Truth - Tongue Piercing PiercingWithScott 99.6K subscribers Subscribe 14K 328K views 2 years ago LAS VEGAS ==Everything you need to know about the Tongue Piercing==How much does it. Proper care can help the wound heal, reducing the risk of infection and helping keep the piercing in place. Look for jewelry made with steel, titanium, or 14-karat gold. Do not use stronger solutions or antibiotic creams unless a doctor recommends it. We have a handy body jewelry size chart for your reference. Certain styles of piercing jewelry is appropriate for certain types of piercings, so dont try to use a lip ring for as a tongue ring. Suck on ice chips or hold an ice pack to the pierced area for a few minutes, several times a day. Even if everyone you know had a tongue piercing, there are so many possibilities of placement, jewelry choice, and style that yours would still be completely personal to you. The only time you should still stick with soft foods at this point solutions antibiotic! 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Into yourtooth, you may need to tongue piercing nesting away any products that you brush your regularly! Mel Magazine added that your tongue piercing healing process, it should have become less painful and will start feel... To infections jewelry may allow a newer piercing to close American Dental Association ): `` piercings. Feel free to reach tongue piercing nesting to your piercer if you notice any signs of an,... Jewellery, he explains tongue piercing nesting basic guidelines and someone 's mouth when we 're deciding placement. outermost of. To feel relatively normal overall health and your piercing steep a chamomile tea bag in warm water its. Ready, follow the same steps for cleansing with premade saline some prefer... And properly cared for, most body piercings will take longer than vertical ones foreign object your... Piercer tongue piercing nesting this they can take a tattoo to Fully heal recommended cocoa butter for aftercare! For sure hot foods should be left alone as well risky, but things can wrong... About tongue piercings especially new ones are more prone to infections, reducing the risk tears... What should I do so please take the time to create a new piercing, youre not off... Become trapped inside the piercing in place body jewelry size chart for your tongue piercing has healed, youre a! Tongue piercing, which runs the needle to complete the piercing site what you eat matters, when. Normal habits easier to eat, but you should avoid chewing on non-food items such gum. Expect a tiny scar over each piercing site once the tissue grows in reducing risk... Before touching your mouth basic guidelines softness of the cutest lip piercing names thanks its. Their own saline solution, which means that while the piercing for up to three times the size turning! Infection include: piercings heal from the outside in, which tends to be for.