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. However, proper aftercare and having an experienced piercing professional can significantly minimize risk. 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. If you do use mouthwash, follow the product directions as you usually would. Many find the clamping more uncomfortable than the actual piercing. A surface piercingalso the least common type of tongue piercingis a horizontal piercing with a curved barbell. Placement: Located below the lip on both the left and right side. "After about a week, the swelling will go down, and then the rest of the healing process is pretty easy," they share. Both piercers strongly suggest using an alcohol-free mouthwash that won't burn your mouth. You can eat almost anything youd like at this point. Proper care can help the wound heal, reducing the risk of infection and helping keep the piercing in place. Taking care of your new oral piercing. "When we're piercing vertically, especially in the centre, we're piercing through a connective tissue between those muscles," Loheide explains. It probably needs a longer bar or different kind of top. Theyll then use a body-safe marker to mark the piercing spots, and ask you to make sure youre happy with the placement. Smiley becomes visible when you smile and show the beautiful teeth line. Proper aftercare plays a crucial role in your healing process. A tongue piercing is any body modification that involves piercing a piece of jewelry through the tongue. Discuss this with your piercer before the procedure. What Type of Jewelry Is Used for a Tongue 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? What Is This Bump on My Cartilage Piercing and What Should I Do? In fact, according to Byrdie, there are midline tongue piercings, horizontal piercings, frenulum linguae, and many more. How Long Does It Take a Tattoo to Fully Heal? Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. The good news: Nipple piercings don't necessarily hurt much more than other piercings. 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. Oral piercings are any piercings that are attached to, or in the mouth. Once thats done, here are the next steps: For sure. 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. Healing time: 8 to 12 weeks. ), submerge your piercing in pools, hot tubs, or open water, take your piercing out before its fully healed, a large amount of smelly discharge thats thick, green, yellow, or gray, gum or tooth issues, like bleeding or erosion, confirm they have a permit and license to operate, see credentials and a portfolio of clients healed piercings, check the quality of the jewelry they stock. This reduces the risk of accidentally introducing additional bacteria to the site. 7 days ago. Common oral piercing concerns are: 1. 1 / 2. double nostrils in gold and 5/16" gold clicker 6ga. There are a few things to expect immediately after your piercing. You can buy these over the counter (OTC) at your piercers shop or local pharmacy. If you dont want to take a temporary hiatus, cut back on your usual intake until the infection clears. 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. Refresh the tea bags with warm water as needed. This includes eating what you want, getting intimate, and switching out your jewelry. We avoid using tertiary references. Redness or swelling that extends beyond the piercing site may be a sign of infection. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. A tongue piercing could cause several immediate and long-term effects that negatively impact your oral health. After 10 minutes, rinse the affected area with warm water and gently pat dry with a clean paper towel. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. True, these are potential hazards of piercing, but there are also simple steps that can be taken to avoid them. 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. If you dont experience any redness or other signs of irritation, it may be safe to apply a chamomile compress to your piercing. A snake bites piercing is a double lip piercing that sits near the outer corners of the lower lips edge. Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI. If possible, rinse your mouth out with salt water after eating and drinking. (2013). See your piercing professional or a healthcare professional if you notice any of these: Wait until the piercings completely healed to change your jewelry. Soak a clean cloth or sturdy paper towel with the solution. Rinse your tongue or lip piercing after every meal or snack and before bed. You can eliminate salt rinses, but be sure to stay on top of your oral health to prevent any problems. Simulated Turquoise 14K Gold Straight Barbell, FreshTrends strives to be a carbon neutral business. ft split tongue. Youll also be asked to fill out some paperwork, including a waiver. Yes, you're absolutely right. Always opt for a nickel-free metal that will keep it happy and healthy. Changing out a tongue piercing is completely possible, and in most cases, can be done by yourself at home. 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. (2014). Association of Professional Piercers (APP). Get the details on how you can lower your chances of developing blisters and other possible side effects. Your dentist can monitor for changes and help ensure that your piercing doesn't cause such damages.. The swelling tends to increase for several days after the piercing, and it may last for a week or slightly longer. But you still have to be mindful of how your mouth and tongue feel when you do eat or drink certain things. It's best to avoid hard, crunchy foods and stick with liquids such as smoothies, yogurt, broths, and applesauce. Also, dont forget that piercings come with two charges: the actual piercing and the jewelry. Removing the stud too soon can increase your risk of tears and infections. 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. However, they should avoid touching the piercing or knocking the piercing with the teeth, as this can increase irritation. Pick a piercing shop that appears clean and well-run. The name . While the tongue may seem like a sensitive spot to pierce, thanks to its responsiveness to tastes and touch, its actually a relatively low-pain placement choice. Risk of infection. Repeat until its comfortably warm to the touch. Tongue piercings can add a little edge to your look, if you're willing to risk the pain. The needle is placed in a sealed container after it's used. "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. clear or white discharge. Dont put things in your mouth like pens and other things that carry bacteria. On the other hand, Loheide says there are no strict rules as to what you can and can't eat because everyone is different. 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. With vertical piercings, you'll have a straight barbell in the middle of your tongue. Here are some possible complications and side effects to watch for: Healing typically takes 23 months. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Leaving longer jewelry in place increases irritation and may damage the teeth. 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. 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. However, the healing process can take upward of. Last medically reviewed on October 25, 2018, A tongue piercing officially takes six and eight weeks to completely heal. Luckily, not every tongue piercing will become infected. 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. (2012). The way a tongue is pierced involves clamping the appendage with forceps to hold the tissue. "If you go to eat something and you're like, 'Wow, this feels terrible to eat,' don't keep eating it," they share. Davies L. (n.d.). There are. Learn more about piercing rejections here. During that time, you should: While it heals, you should be able to remove the jewelry for short periods of time without the hole closing. In general, maintaining good oral hygiene brushing your teeth regularly and flossing is important. However, the advice of a piercer is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor. This is because they are difficult to care for and are more prone to infection. Just like it sounds, a tongue piercing is any tongue modification that pierces a needle and jewelry through the tongue. 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. Crucial to health, safety and comfort is proper placement of your body piercing. Bone, Muscle and Joint Team. 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. The bags should be warm to the touch. Material is key when it comes to piercings. You may not want to use a warm compress if youre already experiencing uncomfortable warmth at the piercing site. The bad news: All piercings hurt. 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