Tongue Piercing: What You Need To Know
A tongue piercing is not a wacko job. Tongue puncturing needs courage, and the aftercare needs dedication and time.
On Jan 30, 2024 – 9 minutes read
A tongue piercing is a discreet fashion statement that many dotes on. Some piercings are totally hidden. Some show when you talk. Like a pearl in the clam, it shows up when you open the mouth making it look stealthy and fun. It sure makes one look adventurous.
The hippie culture brought in its share of out-of-the-blue piercings, unlike the scientifically backed ear and nose piercings. Thus, the health benefits of these piercings are basically nil. The tongue piercing benefits are mainly aesthetic as it can be done in unique locations on the tongue in different unique ways.
What Are Tongue Piercings?
These piercings are the piercing of the tongue at different places to accommodate jewelry. There are different tongue piercing types like midline, horizontal, and vertical piercing. Horizontal piercing usually involves both muscles in the tongue, hence the mobility of the tongue is problematic during the first few weeks of piercing.
Did You Know?
Tongue Piercing has its roots in cultural and religious traditions since the Maya and Aztec cultures. Initially, it was done to please God!
Types Of Tongue Piercings
Snake Eyes Piercing
Snake eyes piercing is a horizontal piercing where the curved barbell will show up as two beads on either side of the tongue resembling a snake’s eyes. It is a risky piercing as there are higher chances of teeth chipping and cracking along with gum erosion. The long-term effects of the piercing are not known though the experts warn that as the piercing is horizontal connecting both the muscles on the tongue it may be risky.
Read more: How much is a snake eye piercing?
Venom Piercing Or Frog Eye Piercing
Venom piercing or frog eye piercing are two vertical piercings on the tongue that will look like frog eyes peering out when you open the mouth.
Read more: Snake eye piercing vs frog eye piercing
Frenulum Piercing
Tongue frenulum piercing, tongue web piercing, or lingual frenulum piercing is a horizontal piercing under the tongue. The frenulum is the web under the tongue. It is a risky piercing as it can cause migration and tearing of the healing fistula resulting in a big hole. This will leave permanent damage along with scar tissue.
Middle Tongue Piercing
It is a comparatively safe piercing where the middle of the tongue is pierced with a vertical piercing. It is a common piercing and very much in vogue.
Other oral piercings like the Smiley piercing and frowny piercing are also popular. They are frenulum piercings. Smiley piercing is the upper frenulum piercing while the frowny piercing is the lower frenulum piercing. Uvula piercing is also a rare oral piercing where the part of the tonsils called the uvula, which can be seen when you open your mouth, is pierced.
Tongue Piercing Health Risks
The human mouth harbors zillions of bacteria making it easier for this piercing to get infected than any other piercing in any other part of the body. Infected tongue piercing can lead to deadly situations. If you see signs of infection like fever, dizziness, chills, vomiting, etc., do not hesitate to go to a healthcare practitioner.
Infections can happen due to the piercing procedure or poor aftercare. Blood-borne infections(1) like tetanus, HIV, and Hepatitis B and C are possibilities due to the use of contaminated needles.
Gum rejection, chipping, and cracking of the teeth are also to be expected in these piercings like the snake eyes piercing. Swallowing and choking on tongue-piercing jewelry is also a possibility that we have to be wary about.
Other health risks include:
- Bleeding: Blood vessels can rupture during the process leading to bleeding.
- Abnormal swelling of the tongue: Swelling of the tongue is normal with tongue piercings, but sometimes the swelling will block the airway and become fatal.
- Nerve damage: Nerve damage is to be anticipated in some piercings.
- Allergic reaction: Sometimes jewelry containing traces of metals like nickel can cause allergic reactions.
- Heart and brain abscess: When infection seeps into the bloodstream it can cause brain or heart abscess creating fatal circumstances.
Tongue Piercing: How To Avoid Health Risks
While searching for tongue piercing near you, try to find a certified and dependable piercer with a good reputation. Cross-check the information and clear your doubts by going there personally. Discuss the piercing you want to do and get all the information before getting into the act.
Tongue Piercing Aftercare
Always take the advice of the piercer as to how you should go ahead with the aftercare. There will be swelling for at least a week after the piercing which will automatically make us care for it religiously.
A saline rinse should be used daily at least twice a day until you heal completely. You should make sure that you brush your teeth after each meal, apart from the routine brushing twice a day. Make sure that you use gentle toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Ensure you are gentle while brushing as rash brushing may cause snags leading to microtears. Try not to use alcohol-based mouthwashes during this time as it may irritate the pierced area.
We have to be careful not to bite the top of the pen, specs, etc. to prevent contamination. The same goes for the fingers, especially if you are a nail-biter. When the hands touch different surfaces it has more chances to pick up bacteria, which will happily get into your mouth when it comes into contact with it. Always disinfect your hands before touching the piercing. Please resist the urge to play with the piercings as well in order not to aggravate the wound and to keep it decontaminated.
Make sure that you eat soft foods or baby food until healing sets in. This is a very good excuse to indulge in ice cream!! All activities that will agitate the piercing should be avoided which includes French kissing and oral sex. Chewing gum and smoking are also not recommended during the healing process. Removing the tongue-piercing jewelry can also affect the healing. Sleeping with your head in an elevated position can also hasten the healing pace.
Healing Time Of Tongue Piercings
We use our tongue daily while eating, speaking, etc. which makes it more difficult for the tongue to heal quicker because of the tongue’s actions. If you care for your piercing meticulously, you can heal within 2- 3 months perfectly. Mind you, horizontal piercings take more time to heal than vertical healings.
How To Clean Tongue-Piercing
Tongue piercings are to be cleaned to ensure safe and speedy healing. The rule of rinsing your mouth with salt water twice or three times a day is great. Try to use rock salt as it has healing properties in addition to anti-bacterial ones. Brushing the teeth after each meal followed by the saline rinse also will help. But food particles may get lodged under the piercing jewelry, hence moving the jewelry and gently cleaning around the piercing area would be advisable. Swishing water in the mouth and checking the piercing jewelry for food buildups are a must. While brushing you should ensure that you clean under and around the piercing jewelry.
Tongue Piercing Pain Levels
These piercings are painful enough, but as there is no cartilage involved there is not much pain is what those who have experienced the pain opine. It depends on the pain threshold of the person as well. The pain threshold varies from person to person. The general consensus is that the pain level is 4-6 out of 10 while 10 being the highest pain level.
How To Deal With Infected Tongue Piercing:
Abnormal swelling, pus, fever, intolerable pain- all may indicate an infected tongue piercing. Do not try to remove the piercing jewelry when you detect infection. Consult a medical practitioner and do not self-medicate.
Tongue Piercing Side Effects
Piercing if done in unhygienic circumstances can lead to infections. These infections can be fatal in some circumstances. The allergic reactions to the tongue-piercing jewelry are also a side effect we have to be wary of.
How Much Is A Tongue Piercing?
This piercing may cost you anywhere between $40 to $100. The cost of jewelry is not included in this. The cost depends on the credentials of the piercer as well. You should always choose a certified piercer and crosscheck their hygiene standards.
Tongue Piercing Jewelry
It is chosen according to the piercing done. In horizontal piercings, it is the curved barbell that is used while in vertical piercings like the middle tongue and venom piercings, single studs are employed.
Tongue Piercing Jewelry Materials
Metals like gold or surgical-grade steel are popular choices as they are hypoallergenic(2)and safe. But even surgical steel may contain nickel which will lead to nickel allergy. Other choices of metal are titanium, niobium, and biocompatible plastics. There is piercing jewelry that has precious stones like diamonds, yellow sapphire, etc. set in them.
Signing Off…
The thing about tongue piercing is that you are proclaiming your control over your own body. You declare that no one can judge what you do with yourself because you are truly independent. It is a personal and intimate decision you do not need to justify. Plus it’s cute. If you can take the responsibility of the careful aftercare, it is a nice add-on to your body. Cheers to the free souls out there!
FAQ
Yes. It would be prudent to keep kissing off the table till the piercing heals completely. The initial few weeks will anyway be painful which will be an automatic kiss dampener. Even after the healing has set in, you should inform your kissing partner that you have a tongue piercing to be safe.
All piercings have a certain amount of risk involved. Infection can seep in during the process or with any carelessness in the aftercare.
Yes, though it will be painful during the initial one or two weeks due to the swelling, you can manage to talk. You should get accommodated to the tongue-piercing jewelry as well.
Dentists don’t recommend these piercings that will be detrimental to the teeth and gum health.
No. It takes time to heal and it varies from person to person.
Yes. If the piercings are located in such a way that they can knock at the teeth every time, the chances of breaking the teeth are higher.
Horizontal snake eye piercing like any other tongue piercing has its risks. The threat to gum and teeth with risks of chipping and breaking the teeth is more in horizontal piercings like the snake eyes piercing.
This piercing if not followed up with religious aftercare can lead to infections or build-up of food residue that can lead to foul breath.
While you brush your teeth, always be aware that you have a tongue piercing. Brush your teeth in such a way that the brushing will not agitate the wound. Brushing your teeth should be done gently so that they would not snag the jewelry and create microtears. You should also ensure that the brushing removes all food residue to make sure that there wouldn’t be any chance for infections.
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Rani is a women’s lifestyle coach with a knack for translating high fashion into accessible, everyday looks. She has helped countless women embrace their personal style, fostering confidence and self-expression.
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