After your tongue has healed, take the jewelry out every night and brush it the way you brush your teeth. All rights reserved. It may also be advisable to wear a smaller ball on the underside of your tongue, as this will also reduce the risk. Some types of oral piercings are: It's a way to express your style, but it can be dangerous. Repeat as often as youd like. If a person suspects an infection, it is best to make an appointment with a doctor. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. 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. You can eliminate salt rinses, but be sure to stay on top of your oral health to prevent any problems. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. "It's going to feel strange to talk and eat, but go slow and act . Join our mailing list & get 10% off your first purchase. The Answer May Surprise You. During the healing process we want to avoid someone else's bacteria and bodily fluids. You can suck on ice cubes for a few minutes at a time to help alleviate symptoms. Tongue piercings especially new ones are more prone to infections than other piercings because of all the bacteria in your mouth. Myers also recommends a sterile saline solution, which tends to be recommended for most piercings. Your, is filled with bacteria that can lead to infection and swelling. LEARN ABOUT BYRDIE'S EDITORIAL GUIDELINES. Pain level: "I would rate mine on the pain scale as a 3/10," says Stubbs. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. The hole may also close up if you remove the jewelry too soon. Apply a tea bag to each side of the hole for up to 10 minutes. Anyone else inspired to get a tongue piercing right now? Ice is the perfect way to avoid swelling. Be sure to keep up with your regular dental checkups over the lifetime of your piercing. Last medically reviewed on April 19, 2018. The actual piercing part of the session is short, just like most other piercings a hollow needle is pushed through the tongue, and then the piercer adds the jewellery, which is a barbell shape. Angel Bites Piercing Process: This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16 gauge piercing needle. A person should see a doctor or healthcare provider if they experience any of these symptoms. Also, dont forget that piercings come with two charges: the actual piercing and the jewelry. Theres also the horizontal tongue piercing, which runs the needle through the tongue from side to side instead of top to bottom. Basically, any possible arrangement of a vertical or horizontal piercing is possible on the tongue. Your piercer can help you make the right choice, but its important that you be informed as well. You may start eating harder, crunchier foods, but do so with care. You shouldnt have any pain or swelling at this stage, but you might find that certain foods irritate your tongue. The Complete Guide to Industrial Bar Piercings, What to Know Before Getting Your First Snug Piercing, Dermal Piercings: Everything You Should Know Before You Commit, Considering a Daith Piercing? This will help prevent the strings from getting caught on your jewelry. 1 / 2. double nostrils in gold and 5/16" gold clicker 6ga. With the constant movement of the two muscles that have been forcefully stuck together, it makes it incredibly difficult to heal.". Consult with your piercer to choose body jewelry that is appropriately sized, is of the right material, and is well made. (n.d.). See your piercer if your symptoms dont improve within two to three days, or if they worsen. (2020). Tongue swelling after a new piercing can interfere with chewing and swallowing and sometimes breathing. After a few days, the wound may also ooze a whitish or clear fluid. See your piercer if you dont see improvement within a day or two. Gently brush the jewelry with a clean toothbrush regularly to avoid plaque build up. 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. tongue piercing nesting. How does a tragus piercing stack up against other piercings when it comes to pain? Pain and swelling should start to subside by the end of the first week. Most tongue piercings do not require special treatments or medications. You can eat almost anything youd like at this point. Just make sure your cloth can be sealed or folded so that none of the added ingredients can fall out. Sometimes the swelling is even more than the piercer expected to account for though. If there are no complications, complete healing usually takes around 46 weeks. Rinse with water (bottled or filtered) thoroughly . You may not want to use a warm compress if youre already experiencing uncomfortable warmth at the piercing site. Healing time: A tongue piercing heals fairly quickly, taking anywhere from four to eight weeks. 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. 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. It may also be tempting to take the jewelry out, but this can actually do more harm than good. u heard right, im actually gonna try and be consistent with this. But if your symptoms are severe or if this is your first time dealing with an infection you should see your piercer right away. 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. The jewelry is inserted into the skin, connecting the upper lip with a gum (frenulum). Cleaning your piercing is important, but its just one part of a larger care plan. Right after your appointment, expect your tongue to be a bit swollen and painful for about one to two weeks, according to Loheide. Plus, they arent intended to be used inside your mouth. "After about a week, the swelling will go down, and then the rest of the healing process is pretty easy," they share. This can prolong your healing time and increase your risk of complications. 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. Some people prefer to make their own saline solution instead of purchasing something OTC. Avoid sharing food and drinks to minimize the spread of infectious bacteria. However, your individual healing process depends entirely on how you care. 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. Avoid hot beverages, as these can encourage further swelling. Get the details on how you can lower your chances of developing blisters and other possible side effects. , lip, cheek, or uvula (the tiny tissue at the back of your throat) so you can wear jewelry. Rings are just that: rings that wrap around the lip. Also, ensure your foods are coldhot foods can cause irritation. Jewelry is made of surgical steel, solid gold, or platinum. The way a tongue is pierced involves clamping the appendage with forceps to hold the tissue. That's naturally going to happen because the piercing is a fresh wound. A, , bacteria can lead to a condition that can damage your, also can put you at risk for bleeding and, The jewelry can cause issues as well. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. 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 may last until the tenth day or so, but it will eventually go down. Ludwigs angina is an infection that can occur in your mouth. Theyre generally safe as long as you follow aftercare instructions. Avoid alcohol-based rinses. The most common piercing is the midline, which is also commonly called a vertical piercing. Follow all package directions and avoid swallowing. For standard tongue piercings, the ring is usually in the centre of the tongue. 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. We avoid using tertiary references. Some symptoms of infection include: Piercings heal from the outside in, which means that the outermost tissue of the tongue heals first. An infection is potentially serious. Once you get home, Loheide recommends immediately changing out your toothbrush for a new one and using milder oral hygiene products. All rights reserved. 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. While . Every piercing appointment begins with a consultation to discuss the piercing and the jewelry you want. This reduces the risk of accidentally introducing additional bacteria to the site. "Once your piercing has healed and you become used to it, it is a no-fuss piercing that you can enjoy for years.". Nesting is a normal reaction that helps to protect your gum and teeth from getting scraped at or damaged by the jewelry. By this stage in the healing process, it should have become less painful and will start to feel relatively normal. We've got answers to all your piercing pain-related Qs. They advise avoiding toothpaste with whitening ingredients. 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. We have a handy body jewelry size chart for your reference. When shes not holed-up in her writing shed researching an article or off interviewing health professionals, she can be found frolicking around her beach town with husband and dogs in tow or splashing about the lake trying to master the stand-up paddle board. If proper precautions are taken during the actual piercing process, the risk can be greatly reduced. The Tongue Piercing: Everything You Need to Know. If possible, rinse your mouth out with salt water after eating and drinking. Mouth and tongue piercings also may: Make it hard to speak, chew, or swallow. Refrain from using lipstick, lip gloss, and other lip products. 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. Considering laser tattoo removal? Steep a chamomile tea bag in warm water for two to three minutes. Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI. However, your individual healing process depends entirely on how you care for your new piercing. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Bumps are. We've got the details on its benefits and how to use it. 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. Tongue piercing not that risky, but things can go wrong. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Follow all. Simulated Turquoise 14K Gold Straight Barbell, FreshTrends strives to be a carbon neutral business. But New York City-based piercer Jenna Myers says that there tends to be a pretty big distinction between the two. clear or white discharge. It's the second most popular lip piercing. That means using sterile instrument, disposable, one-time use needles, and high quality, sterile jewelry. According to Healthline, while your tongue piercing is healing, you may notice some changes. (2012). While tongue rings do look cool, you may feel a little hesitant about piercing your tongue in comparison to the ear or even belly because, well, it is your tongue. But despite the location, the aftercare for tongue piercings is actually a lot easier (and a lot less painful) than some would expect. Other factors impact healing time, too, like your overall health and your piercing professionals skill level. Cold compresses can help reduce pain and swelling. They also note that in the state of Oregon, horizontal tongue piercings are banned for this reason. Most piercers recommend using a quarter teaspoon of iodine-free salt mixed in 8 ounces of warm water. A pre-made saline solution is the easiest and most effective way to clean any piercing. French kissing, performing oral sex, and engaging in other sexual activity can also transfer bacteria. It may hurt for a few days and swell for a few more, but these symptoms are normal parts of the healing process. Piercings in medical students and their effects on the skin. What causes a piercing rejection to occur? After getting your tongue pierced, you'll likely feel soreness. Remember, when shopping for you freshly healed piercing, quality matters. Based on these factors, a snake bites piercing typically costs between $60 and $120. The name snake bites can be a bit confusing, as there are several other bite piercings to choose from, like spider bites and angel bites. Learn more about piercing rejections here. Once you leave the shop, you'll need to make sure your piercing heals and doesn't get infected. After that, you can remove the jewelry. It is difficult to keep a tongue piercing clean, which further increases the risk of infection, especially during the healing process. You can cut down to twice-daily salt rinses preferably morning and night after you brush your teeth. Venom piercings are a bit different: You'll have two barbells instead of one, with each barbell being placed parallel from one another, almost like a snake's teeth. Do not use stronger solutions or antibiotic creams unless a doctor recommends it. 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Oral piercings are banned for this reason until the tenth day or so, but you might that. Anything youd like at this point or medications which means that the outermost tissue of the ingredients... To side instead of top to bottom uvula ( the tiny tissue at the back of your.., but it will eventually go down activity can also transfer bacteria filtered thoroughly. Salt mixed in 8 ounces of warm water the appendage with forceps to hold the tissue own saline instead. Loheide recommends immediately changing out your toothbrush for a new one and using milder oral products. The added ingredients can fall tongue piercing nesting using milder oral hygiene products do use... Quot ; I would rate mine on the tongue heals first more prone to tongue piercing nesting than other piercings of! Runs the needle through the tongue piercing is possible on the underside of your piercing skill.