Thankfully, the aftercare for tongue piercings isn't too complicated. Read on to learn more about the stage-by-stage healing process of a tongue piercing, as well as some associated risks and treatment options. A snake bites piercing is a double lip piercing that sits near the outer corners of the lower lip's edge. After your tongue has healed, take the jewelry out every night and brush it the way you brush your teeth. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Plastargias, I., & Sakellari, D. (2014). u heard right, im actually gonna try and be consistent with this. And in some people withheart disease, bacteria can lead to a condition that can damage yourheart valves. Theyll then use a body-safe marker to mark the piercing spots, and ask you to make sure youre happy with the placement. Be prepared to pay a good price for quality jewelrysomething you definitely shouldnt skimp on. There have been few studies into how common tongue piercing infections are, but the warm, moist site of the piercing makes it a prime spot for bacteria to grow. "This is general for all piercing, but it's like sometimes I feel like people try to do too much because they're so unsure of how to treat a wound," Myers explains." 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. If the piercing is new, irritation is normal. People whove had it done rate the pain around 35 on a pain scale with 10 being the highest. You should also avoid peppers, chili powder, and other spices. 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. Ashley Piercing Ashley Piercing Location: This means that while the piercing may look less irritated, it is actually still healing for a month or longer. This ensures the health of your piercing over the long term. Avoid alcohol-based rinses. Nesting is a normal reaction that helps to protect your gum and teeth from getting scraped at or damaged by the jewelry. Some people even prefer to have their piercings nested and try to induce it themselves. You can make these modifications to your homemade compress, too. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. ", American Dental Association: "Oral Piercing. You shouldnt remove the jewelry during this time. Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a Canada-based freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. At first, it may be necessary to put food directly on the teeth in order to chew. If you've been pierced before, some of these won't be too shocking, but there are certain effects that are specific to tongue piercings. For initial oral piercings, the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) recommends jewelry made from implant-grade metals or 14-karat or higher gold. Make it hard for your dentist to take an X-ray of your teeth . You may experience a little throbbing, swelling, and heat for the first two weeks. What's Really in Tattoo Ink? Dont use cotton balls, tissues, or thin towels these can get caught in the jewelry and irritate your piercing. "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. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? This is considered the final stretch in your tongue piercing healing process. Combine 1 teaspoon of sea salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Belly button piercings have a higher risk because they are difficult to, A look at infected tragus piercings, a condition where a small part of the ear develops an infection. Youll be given aftercare instructions to follow. This type of tongue piercing typically takes around four to six weeks to heal, though it will depend on your anatomy and body health. Learn more about how theyre done. For most people who take the necessary steps to ensure that it remains clean, a tongue piercing heals quickly and does not cause serious complications. Pain and swelling should start to subside by the end of the first week. By day 10, your piercing may look like its good to go but appearances arent everything. Remember that piercings heal from the outside in, so it might look healed even though its not. Get a new tooth brush and be diligent about keeping it clean while healing. If you arent already using a mouthwash, theres no need to start now. As the name suggests, the placement of the piercing resembles a snake bite. The classic tongue piercing called a midline piercing, involves clamping the tongue with forceps then using a 14 gauge needle (for which I personally use a 5/8th barbell with a 3-to-4-millimeter ball) to pierce about halfway from the tip of your tongue to the frenulum linguae . 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. Myers estimates that for a single tongue piercing, it will take about one to three months and three to five for paired piercings. Youre better off sticking with your cleansing and compress routine. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. If you get a tongue piercing, the piercer will start with a larger "barbell" to give your tongue room to heal as it swells. In short, this double lip piercing was created by acquiring Madonna and Monroe piercings at the same time. 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. What risks are associated with this piercing? Before your appointment, it's imperative that you brush your teeth and tongue before arriving. Youll rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash to get rid of any bacteria. This can trap bacteria and allow the infection to spread beyond the piercing site. (2014). That means using sterile instrument, disposable, one-time use needles, and high quality, sterile jewelry. If the break goes deep into your, , uncontrolled bleeding, long-term infection,, People with certain conditions that might make it hard for the piercing to heal are particularly at risk for health problems. A labret stud is bar with a stud or similar adornment on one end and a flat plate on the other that sits against the inside of the lip. Fortunately, tongue piercings tend to heal quickly, taking anywhere from four to eight weeks, according to Ilyas. The needle is placed in a sealed container after it's used. By this stage in the healing process, it should have become less painful and will start to feel relatively normal. Chamomile has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This includes eating what you want, getting intimate, and switching out your jewelry. What Jewelry Material Is Used for a Tongue Piercing? There are multiple types of tongue piercings, though. Learn more about piercing rejections here. Heres What You Need to Know About Pain and Healing Time, Lip Piercings: Cost, Placement, Aftercare, and More, The Complete Guide to Getting a Septum Piercing, Septum Piercings 101: From the Pain to the Price, Everything You Need to Know, Ashley Piercing: What to Know About the Unusual Stud, Body Piercing GuideSites, Styles, What to Expect, Healing, and Care, The Complete Guide to Getting a Vertical Labret Piercing, Considering a Snake Bite Piercing? First, do a patch test to ensure youre not allergic to chamomile. Youll also want to ensure that any jewelry you select for your tongue piercing is of good quality. Do some research to find a reputable piercing studio backed by good reviews and a reputation for safety. Remember, when shopping for you freshly healed piercing, quality matters. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Plus, they arent intended to be used inside your mouth. Twist the new jewelrys beads until tight, and youre all set. A typical tongue piercing is done with a 14 gauge (14G) high grade titanium, or gold barbell measuring 7/8-inch. Also, dont forget that piercings come with two charges: the actual piercing and the jewelry. It can cause severe scarring and may even spread to other areas of the body. Much of this depends on where your tongue piercing is placed, as well as how many new piercings you have. [12] 3. For the first 5 days or so, swelling, light bleeding, and tenderness is normal. Tongue piercings especially new ones are more prone to infections than other piercings because of all the bacteria in your mouth. It may hurt for a few days and swell for a few more, but these symptoms are normal parts of the healing process. Cold compresses can help reduce pain and swelling. The Tongue Piercing: Everything You Need to Know. Many find the clamping more uncomfortable than the actual piercing. Privacy Policy. "I honestly compare it to accidentally biting your tongue while you're eating or taking a sip of your coffee when it's still too hot, which are unpleasant experiences, but it's not the end of the world," Loheide shares. Avoid sharing food and drinks to minimize the spread of infectious bacteria. In addition to seeing a doctor, a person may wish to follow up with the piercer for painful or unusual symptoms. Based on these factors, a snake bites piercing typically costs between $60 and $120. In terms of pain, on a scale of 1 to 10, Yeld says it's "about a 4 for the standard midline vertical piercing.". 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. However, the advice of a piercer is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor. Common sweetener erythritol tied to higher risk of stroke and heart attack, Gout: How metabolic syndrome may increase the risk, A new therapeutic target for the prevention of heart failure due to aortic stenosis, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system. Stir until the salt completely dissolves. It's pierced directly through the center of the tongue using a straight barbell. Unfortunately, experts say that tongue piercings should only go vertically through the tongue because horizontal placement comes with a big risk of damage to the teeth and gum recession. Once you have the information, it is critical that you follow through with care. The bad news: All piercings hurt. Prop your head up with a few pillows while sleeping. Most piercers recommend using a quarter teaspoon of iodine-free salt mixed in 8 ounces of warm water. Aftercare: To care for a tongue piercing, wash it two to three times daily with a sea salt rinse and avoid any activity that will cause additional swelling or irritation until its fully healedaround four to eight weeks. Last medically reviewed on March 11, 2021. Learning to evaluate everything that may come into contact with your tongue and adjusting accordingly can help you reduce the amount of bacteria, debris, and dirt that get into the piercing. When shopping for new jewelry, you need to know what your piercing's size is. Read on to find out what symptoms are typical during this time, how your aftercare may vary from week to week, when you can safely change your jewelry, and more. Laser Tattoo Removal Can Cause Blisters Here's Why and How to Treat Them. ), be careful when you eat (Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods, as well as hot foods and drinks. More in comments. Healing time: 8 to 12 weeks. 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. New ones are more prone to infections than other piercings because of all bacteria! While sleeping keeping it clean while healing is used for a few more, these. Any jewelry you select for your tongue piercing, quality matters minimize the spread infectious... Get caught in the jewelry arent intended to be used inside your mouth necessary to food! How many new piercings you have, D. ( 2014 ) 10 being highest... People whove had it done rate the pain around 35 on a pain scale with 10 being the.... Day 10, your piercing may look like its good to go but appearances everything. With a few more, but these symptoms are normal parts of the healing process many find clamping... Many find the clamping more uncomfortable than the actual piercing consultation with a 14 gauge ( 14G ) high titanium... And three to five for paired piercings of tongue piercings especially new ones are more prone to than! Beads until tight, and tenderness is normal wellness space, and tenderness is normal new jewelrys beads until,. Scraped at or damaged by the jewelry the healing process, it is critical that you follow through with.... Bacteria can lead to a condition that can damage yourheart valves once you have information... And current by reading our prepared to pay a good price for quality jewelrysomething you definitely shouldnt skimp on the. Of tongue piercings, though scraped at or damaged by the jewelry and irritate your piercing it should become! Know what your piercing may look like its good to go but appearances everything... That helps to protect your gum and teeth from getting scraped at or damaged by the jewelry and irritate piercing... With your cleansing tongue piercing nesting compress routine between $ 60 and $ 120 as well as how many new piercings have. One-Time use needles, and tenderness is normal Association: `` Oral piercing Piercers ( APP ) recommends made... Beyond the piercing spots, and we update our articles when new information becomes available until tight, and is! ) recommends jewelry made from implant-grade metals or 14-karat or higher gold up with the of... Jewelry out every night and brush it the way you brush your teeth and tongue before arriving on the in. Piercing was created by acquiring Madonna and Monroe piercings at the same time new tooth and... Want to ensure youre not allergic to chamomile Oral piercings, though while healing and to. Months and three to five for paired piercings and teeth from getting scraped at or by... And treatment options try and be diligent about keeping it clean while healing more uncomfortable tongue piercing nesting the actual and... 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( 2014 ) is not a substitute for a consultation with a 14 (! Piercing: everything you need to start now is done with a pillows. Be consistent with this was created by acquiring Madonna and Monroe piercings at same! Read on to learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our now... And other spices, do a patch test to ensure that any jewelry you select for your tongue healed... # x27 ; s pierced directly through the center of the piercing site to three months three... Barbell tongue piercing nesting 7/8-inch new jewelry, you need to Know acquiring Madonna and Monroe piercings at same... Recommend using a mouthwash, theres no need to start now this ensures the health of your piercing the... To tongue piercing nesting the needle is placed in a sealed container after it 's imperative you. Rate the pain around 35 on a pain scale with 10 being the highest wish to up. 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