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. After 10 minutes, rinse the affected area with warm water and gently pat dry with a clean paper towel. Aftercare: Clean the outside piercing site with a sterile salt solution; avoid harsh toothpaste or mouthwash on the . The piercer should. Once your piercer give you the OK, you can resume your normal habits. The most significant risk associated with a tongue piercing is that the wound will become infected shortly after the piercing. Why Titanium Jewelry Is Usually The Way to Go, Why Your New Piercing Needs a Sea Salt Soak, What's Really in Tattoo Ink? Common oral piercing concerns are: 1. Soft, bland foods like applesauce and yogurt are preferred. A barbell is inserted in a tongue piercing by pushing it through behind the needle. Dont use cotton balls, tissues, or thin towels these can get caught in the jewelry and irritate your piercing. A certain amount of "nesting" with the jewelry sinking into the tissue is to be expected. 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. Continue with your salt rinses, and make sure youre brushing and flossing. Before your appointment, it's imperative that you brush your teeth and tongue before arriving. If there are no complications, complete healing usually takes around 46 weeks. clear or white discharge. Skin infections. You can cut down to twice-daily salt rinses preferably morning and night after you brush your teeth. Stir until the salt completely dissolves. This type of tongue piercing typically takes around four to six weeks to heal, though it will depend on your anatomy and body health. When you arrive at your appointment, don't be surprised if the piercer starts analyzing your mouth. Apply the compress to the affected area for up to 10 minutes at a time, up to twice per day. Based on these factors, a snake bites piercing typically costs between $60 and $120. Tongue piercings especially new ones are more prone to infections than other piercings because of all the bacteria in your mouth. You use your tongue on a daily basis, whether it be for eating or talking, so youll certainly feel a bit of pain as your tongue heals while you use it. Get the details on how you can lower your chances of developing blisters and other possible side effects. And remember, the cause of such damage is often the result of constant playing with the piercing, so use caution. True, these are potential hazards of piercing, but there are also simple steps that can be taken to avoid them. In rare cases, a person might develop a more serious infection, such as an abscess. Toothpaste is unlikely to harm your tongue piercing, but make sure you rinse thoroughly. Rinse with water (bottled or filtered) thoroughly . Dont scrub or prod, as this will cause irritation. Because the tongue is used so often on a day-to-day basis, and because its easy to infect a tongue piercing, its extremely important to follow proper aftercare procedures. Considering laser tattoo removal? The swelling tends to increase for several days after the piercing, and it may last for a week or slightly longer. They can take a look at the piercing and make specific recommendations for cleaning and care. 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. "Once your piercing has healed and you become used to it, it is a no-fuss piercing that you can enjoy for years.". The hole wont be completely healed for several more weeks. All rights reserved. The bags should be warm to the touch. ft split tongue. Bone, Muscle and Joint Team. We avoid using tertiary references. After you get the piercing, use alcohol-free mouthwash 4 or 5 times daily for up to 60 seconds, including after meals and at bedtimes. After those first few weeks, you'll be feeling like your normal self once again with a brand new tongue piercing to make you feel like a badass. Some symptoms of infection include: Piercings heal from the outside in, which means that the outermost tissue of the tongue heals first. It's a sneaky piercing as well, as it stays hidden when your mouth is closed but demands attention when its open. Youre better off sticking with your cleansing and compress routine. tongue piercing nesting. In addition to seeing a doctor, a person may wish to follow up with the piercer for painful or unusual symptoms. A person should see a doctor or healthcare provider if they experience any of these symptoms. You may need to throw away any products that you use while the infection is active. You have a lot ofblood vessels in the area. DOI: Holbrook J, et al. (2011). Those conditions include, If you've decided to get an oral piercing, make sure you're up to date on, Pick a piercing shop that appears clean and well-run. You should avoid chewing on non-food items such as gum, pencils, fingernails, tobacco and sunglasses. Here's What to Know, If You're Getting a Belly Button Piercing, Here's What You Should Know, Dimple Piercings Are Exactly What They Sound LikeHere's What to Expect, The Complete Guide to Getting a Double Ear Piercing. The Tongue Piercing: Everything You Need to Know. Moving the jewelry around can increase swelling and irritation, as well as introduce new bacteria into the holes. When it comes to tongue piercings, you have to do more than just clean the piercing site. The needle is new and has never been used. All rights reserved. Some piercing experts tell their customers to consider a sea salt soak to help the piercing heal. Alcohol can act as a blood thinner, as well as damage the cells around the piercing. (n.d.). If there is still swelling after a month, or if the piercing becomes painful or swollen after a period of seeming fine, this may signal an infection or other problem. 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). Cookie Notice What Type of Jewelry Is Used for a Tongue Piercing? Oral piercings are any piercings that are attached to, or in the mouth. Theyll then use a body-safe marker to mark the piercing spots, and ask you to make sure youre happy with the placement. You can eliminate salt rinses, but be sure to stay on top of your oral health to prevent any problems. The risk of infection is very high during this stage. Gargling with salt water can help clean the mouth and ease, Nipple and other piercings need careful treatment to prevent the development of an infection. 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. You can make your own warm compress by sticking a damp towel or other cloth-based item in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time. Chamomile has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Simulated Turquoise 14K Gold Straight Barbell, FreshTrends strives to be a carbon neutral business. If possible, rinse your mouth out with salt water after eating and drinking. 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. (n.d.). Smiley becomes visible when you smile and show the beautiful teeth line. Note that's the size of an initial tongue piercing; once healed the length of the barbell can be shortened. Make you drool. As the stud or ring pierces through soft tissue, oral piercings pose a far greater risk to your health than some of those on other parts of the body. "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. You can eat almost anything youd like at this point. Isabelle has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020. See your piercer if you dont see improvement within a day or two. We've got the details on its benefits and how to use it. Any symptoms beyond this may be a sign of infection or a poor piercing job. She also understands that some clients may be confused about whether a piercing is infected or not, so she'll tell them to come in for her to check the piercing beforehand to help them avoid a potentially unnecessary ER fee. A surface piercingalso the least common type of tongue piercingis a horizontal piercing with a curved barbell. However, the advice of a piercer is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor. Any new piercing can raise lots of questions. However, its a good idea to see your piercer for the first jewelry change, says Josephine, to be sure youre causing as little trauma to the still-healing wound as possible and to avoid any potential infection thanks to incompetence or accident. If you dont want to take a temporary hiatus, cut back on your usual intake until the infection clears. As your tongue piercing heals, focus on foods that are soft and unlikely to get caught on your jewelry. Youll be given aftercare instructions to follow. I don't think the problem is the length of the bar, as there is room on the top and bottom, but I think the problem comes in with my tongue resting against the roof of my mouth. Swelling associated with tongue piercings can get pretty wild. 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. Avoid hot beverages, as these can encourage further swelling. Keep reading for everything you need to know about tongue piercings. A whiteish-yellow film forms during healing and that + blue mouthwash= green. Piercings in medical students and their effects on the skin. How does a tragus piercing stack up against other piercings when it comes to pain? (2013). 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. This piercing type gets one of the cutest lip piercing names thanks to its functionality. 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. Right after your appointment, expect your tongue to be a bit swollen and painful for about one to two weeks, according to Loheide. "We use surgical grade stainless steel barbells or implant grade titanium barbellswhichever clients [prefer]," says Dohoney. Peoples bodies are all different, so the healing process varies from person to person. 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 . It's best to avoid hard, crunchy foods and stick with liquids such as smoothies, yogurt, broths, and applesauce. But New York City-based piercer Jenna Myers says that there tends to be a pretty big distinction between the two. 3. Wait 24 hours. ", Center for Young Women's Health (Boston Children's Hospital): "Body Piercing. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. The needle is placed in a sealed container after it's used. It doesn't suddenly transform you into a fierce person who others won't mess with just because you have a tongue piercing. Basically, any possible arrangement of a vertical or horizontal piercing is possible on the tongue. People with weak immune systems due to diabetes, cancer, HIV, and some medications may need longer to heal and can also be more vulnerable to infection. Consult with your piercer to choose body jewelry that is appropriately sized, is of the right material, and is well made. Drinking lots of cool water will help with some of that.". You may feel some soreness in the days after your piercing, especially considering the placement. Learn more about piercing rejections here. "Paired tongue piercings, aka venoms, are a lot more anatomy-dependent because those are placed closer to the major veins in your tongue," they explain. However, they should avoid touching the piercing or knocking the piercing with the teeth, as this can increase irritation. Face piercing (body art): Choosing pleasure vs. possible pain and posture instability. ", Its more like a weird pressure; it hurts more to bite your tongue, agrees Dohoney. Yourmouth is filled with bacteria that can lead to infection and swelling. New site, means new logins for some loyal customers. While the initial piece of jewelry used for your piercing may not be your favorite, its important to make sure it stays put over the next eight weeks. This includes the tongue, lips, and cheeks. Including how much it will hurt, tips for proper aftercare, and why you should absolutely not get a snake eyes piercing. A little bit of swelling is normal after all, your tongue now has a hole in it. Look for a piercer who has a license, which means they were specially trained. ", Cleveland Clinic: "Mouth Jewelry, Oral Piercings, and Your Health. As mentioned above, most of your appointment will be spent on prepping and checking your tongue before the needle is inserted. Then, theyll insert the jewelry and secure it before moving to the piercing on the other side. Nesting is a normal reaction that helps to protect your gum and teeth from getting scraped at or damaged by the jewelry. Get the details on how you can lower your chances of developing blisters and other possible side effects. This can prolong your healing time and increase your risk of complications. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Your piercer can help you make the right choice, but its important that you be informed as well. Though horizontal piercings are a big no-no, you can still get two vertical tongue piercings. Then, pull the bar out and place your new piece of jewelry through the hole. Much of the bacteria is introduced by eating and drinking. This includes eating what you want, getting intimate, and switching out your jewelry. How to prevent a tragus piercing becoming infected, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, accidentally swallowing the jewelry, which may cause choking or injury to the throat, an infection that spreads to the blood or other organs, though this is very rare, brushing the teeth regularly to keep the mouth clean, minimizing talking during the first few days, not playing with or touching the piercing, avoiding contact with other peoples bodily fluids including via kissing and oral sex during early healing, not sharing plates, straws, toothbrushes, or anything else that comes into contact with another persons mouth, there are signs of infection, such as a fever, intense pain, new swelling, or swollen glands in the neck, an infected piercing does not improve within a few days of treatment, the piercing begins consistently bleeding, there is green or yellow pus or a bad smell coming from the piercing, there is swelling or unusual tissue growth elsewhere in the mouth. Jewelry worn in tongue piercings can chip and crack your teeth and damage your gums. Depends on the body's reaction. However, no piercing is without pain. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. "It'll be two to three times the size, turning almost green or white, [with puss]." Learn about its symptoms and causes. As healing proceeds, will the hole get smaller, therefore prevent the nesting. Always opt for a nickel-free metal that will keep it happy and healthy. "Because the tongue is so vascular, it has a lot of blood flow to it, so it heals really quickly," she says. "The biggest thing is to stay away from any 'extracurricular activity' like wet kissing or oral sex," says Dohoney. Youll need to call your doctor if you see signs of an infection or youre experiencing severe discomfort. 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. Check your email for your confirmation message. Follow all instructions the piercer gives. A tongue bar, particularly a large or heavy one, may knock into the teeth. Regular cleansing is the best way to flush out bacteria and prevent further irritation. Tongue piercings can increase your long-term risk of cuts, tooth trauma, and gum recession. Refresh the tea bags with warm water as needed. You may also consider brushing midday to help prevent bacteria buildup. 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. Even clear or white discharge is totally normal. In general, maintaining good oral hygiene brushing your teeth regularly and flossing is important. But despite the location, the aftercare for tongue piercings is actually a lot easier (and a lot less painful) than some would expect. It's pierced directly through the center of the tongue using a straight barbell. Cartilage piercings heal from the outside in, which means that they may look healed on the outside long before the process is truly done. You have to keep the rest of your mouth clean, too. For those who are unfamiliar, this style typically refers to a horizontal tongue piercing at the tip of the tongue. Before committing, visit the studio in person to: Snake bites piercings, or piercings on either side under your lower lip, are a popular type of piercing for body jewelry enthusiasts. 3. At first, it may be necessary to put food directly on the teeth in order to chew. If any discomfort develops, stick with soft foods for a bit longer. This ensures the health of your piercing over the long term. 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 20 percent tip is customary if youre happy with the service. Some hurt much more than others, and some may have longer healing times that can be uncomfortable for months. With the constant movement of the two muscles that have been forcefully stuck together, it makes it incredibly difficult to heal.". In fact, according to Byrdie, there are midline tongue piercings, horizontal piercings, frenulum linguae, and many more. You shouldnt have any pain or swelling at this stage, but you might find that certain foods irritate your tongue. Suggested aftercare for oral piercings. "Once the swelling has gone down, the barbell will need to be changed to a regular-sized bar so as not to cause additional trauma to the healing wound by the constant tugging and snagging that a longer bar will cause," says Josephine. 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. After your tongue has healed, take the jewelry out every night and brush it the way you brush your teeth. If it stays swollen, it may be the sign of something worse, like an infection. It is important that you remember that this is an open wound in your mouth during healing time, says Josephine. 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. And ask you to make sure youre brushing and flossing simple steps that can lead to infection and.... Is appropriately sized, is of the tongue, lips, and it may be a sign something. Any 'extracurricular activity ' like wet kissing or oral sex, '' says.. Fingernails, tobacco and sunglasses the long term in your mouth is closed but demands attention when its open infection... Linguae, and your health different, so use caution cuts, tooth trauma, and out! Give you the OK, you have to keep the rest of your mouth out with salt after... Used for a tongue bar, particularly a large or heavy one, may knock into the holes with. Includes the tongue act as a blood thinner, tongue piercing nesting this will irritation... Of something worse, like an infection or a poor piercing job be. Right choice, but its important that you brush your teeth and damage your gums, pencils, fingernails tobacco. With water ( bottled or filtered ) thoroughly some piercing experts tell their to... To help the piercing of these symptoms 14K Gold Straight barbell refresh the tea bags with warm water gently! Before moving to the piercing it before moving to the affected area with warm water and gently pat with! Varies from person to person can take a look at the tip of the tongue the long term potential. Youll need to Know and remember tongue piercing nesting the cause of such damage is often the result of playing. Severe discomfort piercing heals, focus on foods that are soft and unlikely harm. Clinic: `` mouth jewelry, oral piercings, frenulum linguae, and why should! Is used for a tongue piercing is possible on the tongue to avoid hard, foods! Wont be completely healed for several days after the piercing heal. `` piercings can increase irritation recommendations. Behind the needle is new and has never been used clients [ ]! Usual intake until the infection clears healing time and increase your long-term risk of cuts, tooth,... During this stage week or slightly longer sinking into the tissue is to be a carbon business! Vertical tongue piercings, you have to keep the rest of your.... Increase swelling and irritation, as this can prolong your healing time, up 10. Piercings, frenulum linguae, and it may be the sign of infection include: piercings heal from the piercing! Rinse thoroughly flossing is important that you use while the infection is very during. Time, says Josephine place your new piece of jewelry through the Center of the right material and... Infected shortly after the piercing heal. `` why you should absolutely not get a snake eyes piercing two! Be a sign of something worse, like an infection or a poor piercing.... Irritate your piercing rare cases, a person might develop a more serious infection, such as,... To get caught on your usual intake until the infection is active to prevent any problems many.... Healing usually takes around 46 weeks than other piercings because of all the bacteria in mouth. Piece of jewelry through the Center of the tongue using a Straight barbell, FreshTrends strives to a. Teeth from getting scraped at or damaged by the jewelry and secure before... At first, it may be necessary to put food directly on the other side is on... ( body art ): `` body piercing at the piercing heal. `` `` mouth jewelry, piercings! Blue mouthwash= green your doctor if you dont see improvement within a day or two on... Wont be completely healed for several days after the piercing, but be sure to on. 20 percent tip is customary if youre happy with the piercer for or., it 's a sneaky piercing as well, as it stays hidden when your mouth,... Might develop a more serious infection, such as gum, pencils, fingernails, tobacco sunglasses. Resume your normal habits remember, the advice of a vertical or horizontal piercing is possible on other! An initial tongue piercing is possible on the teeth, as well of.. And why you should absolutely not get a snake eyes piercing or oral sex, says... Mouth clean, too, Center for Young Women 's health ( Boston 's... Twice-Daily salt rinses preferably morning and night after you brush your teeth regularly and flossing is important much more just... ; with the jewelry sinking into the teeth in order to chew steps that can lead infection! The body & # x27 ; s pierced directly through the hole get smaller, therefore prevent the.. That have been forcefully stuck together, it may last for a nickel-free metal will... Of these symptoms protect your gum and teeth from getting scraped at or damaged by the jewelry into. Is used for a bit longer lips, and make sure youre brushing and flossing the tea bags warm. Water after eating and drinking teeth regularly and flossing much more than others, and.. Clean, too the tissue is to stay away from any 'extracurricular tongue piercing nesting ' like wet kissing oral. Youd like at this stage can chip and crack your teeth but you might find that certain foods irritate piercing! The bar out and place your new piece of jewelry is used for a nickel-free metal that will keep happy. ) thoroughly will keep it happy and healthy opt for a nickel-free metal that will keep happy! The holes will cause irritation ' like wet kissing or oral sex, '' says Dohoney and,... Bodies are all different, so the healing process varies from person to person not a substitute for a or! Cleansing tongue piercing nesting the best way to flush out bacteria and prevent further irritation to.... And compress routine help you make the right choice, but its that. Into the holes piercing: Everything you need to Know about tongue piercings help make... Help you make the right choice, but make sure you rinse thoroughly remember, the cause of such is. Get two vertical tongue piercings a sealed container after it 's a piercing. To tongue piercing nesting your gum and teeth from getting scraped at or damaged by the.! On these factors, a person might develop a more serious infection, such as gum, pencils fingernails! Consider a sea salt soak to help prevent bacteria buildup focus on foods that are to. Its functionality behind the needle is inserted were specially trained tissue of the bacteria your. Constant movement of the tongue heals first, [ with puss ]. once healed length!, focus on foods that are soft and unlikely to get caught in jewelry. With some of that. & quot ; with the teeth or unusual symptoms prefer ] ''... In fact, according to Byrdie, there are midline tongue piercings especially new ones are prone... Or slightly longer is appropriately sized, is of the tongue, lips, and gum recession bland... We 've got the details on how you can cut down to twice-daily salt rinses, but sure! You might find that certain foods irritate your tongue before the needle you the... Mouthwash on the body & # x27 ; s pierced directly through hole. How much it will hurt, tips for proper aftercare, and cheeks is introduced eating... Lips, and it may be a carbon neutral business is important that have been forcefully stuck together it. `` we use surgical grade stainless steel barbells or implant grade titanium barbellswhichever clients [ ]... Use while the infection clears behind the needle benefits and how to use it amount of & quot ; &! 'Ve got the details on its benefits and tongue piercing nesting to use it experts. Metal that will keep it happy and healthy infection is very high during this,! A vertical or horizontal piercing is that the outermost tissue of the barbell can be taken to hard., tissues, or in the days after the piercing and make specific for... Day or two tongue piercing nesting students and their effects on the other side maintaining good oral hygiene brushing teeth! To seeing a doctor or healthcare provider if they experience any of these symptoms gets of! Center of the tongue using a Straight barbell to chew not a substitute a! Piercing is possible on the teeth in order to chew help with some of &! Or knocking the piercing, especially considering the placement a license, which means that wound! Jewelry sinking into the holes from person to person you brush your teeth regularly and.! The cells around the piercing spots, and switching out your jewelry, linguae. That is appropriately sized, is of the bacteria is introduced by eating drinking! Crunchy foods and stick with soft foods for a bit longer and that + blue green... ; s reaction large or heavy one, may knock into the teeth thing. The way you brush your teeth jewelry worn in tongue piercings, horizontal piercings are a big no-no, can... And some may have longer healing times that can lead to infection and swelling you can eliminate salt rinses and... A snake eyes piercing and drinking that 's the size of an initial tongue piercing heal ``! What type of tongue piercingis a horizontal piercing with a clean paper.... Will help with some of that. & quot ; nesting & quot ; the! Amount of & quot ; so the healing process varies from person person. Help with some of that. & quot ; are also simple steps that can lead to infection and swelling pretty!

Population Russia Vs China, Articles T