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tongue piercing 10 things to know before starting

Looking to get your tongue pierced for the first time but have questions about pain, cost, risks, or healing? Piercing your tongue is a joyful step, but it can also be stressful. Here are some basic information to know before getting started.

Piercing has changed a lot in recent years. In addition to the traditional piercing of the navel, nose and eyebrows, more and more new options are being developed. A very popular piercing in the 90s is tongue piercing. As the name suggests, jewelry is inserted into the tongue for this piercing. But not all tongue piercings are the same.

1 / Different types of tongue piercings

Did you know ? There are many places where you can pierce your tongue. Of course, there is a "classic" piercing, which is located in the middle of the tongue, but there are many options. Here's a list:

Classic piercing

The most common tongue piercing is a piercing that is placed vertically in the middle of the tongue. Typically, jewelry for this type of piercing is a bar with a ball on each side, 16 mm long and 1,2 to 1,6 mm thick.

"Poisonous" piercing

If a classic piercing is not original enough for you, you can try Venom Piercing, in which two piercings are pierced through the tongue, one next to the other, like eyes.

Superficial double piercing

A “scoop piercing” or “double surface piercing” looks like a “venom piercing,” but this is only a surface piercing. This means that the gem does not cross the tongue on either side, but only passes along the surface of the tongue horizontally.

The puncture surface heals faster, usually after two weeks, but this can affect the perception of taste while eating. The decoration is often a bar curved at an angle of 90 degrees with a flattened ball.

Le tongue frenum piercing

Another type of tongue piercing is a frenum piercing, a small fold of tissue under the tongue. With this piercing, a small frenum (similar to a smiley face) is pierced under the tongue. Because jewelry often rubs against teeth and gums, teeth can be damaged. It also makes the frenum easier to detach with this type of piercing.

The decoration in this piercing looks like a ring or a horseshoe. To prevent the decoration from bothering the inside of the mouth, it should be small.

Le piercing "snake eye"

This piercing is done at the end of the tongue, not in the middle. This piercing mimics the head of a snake with a protruding tongue, hence the name "snake eyes".

Unfortunately, this piercing is more dangerous. Not only can it take a long time to heal, piercings can also lead to speech problems, loss of taste, and tooth damage.

Read also: These photos prove that the piercing rhymes with style.

Video from Margo Rush

Important: Regardless of your piercing choice, it is important that you choose an experienced professional to avoid severe inflammation. In particular, when piercing the tongue, care must be taken to pierce it in the right place so as not to damage the teeth or damage the frenum of the tongue. In addition, if the procedure is performed incorrectly, damage to taste buds or speech impairment can occur.

These piercing patterns for the original tongue:

2 / How does tongue piercing work?

First, the oral cavity is disinfected and the location of the hole is noted.

The tongue is then blocked with forceps to prevent it from moving during the piercing. The tongue is pierced most often from the bottom up with a special needle and a stabbing rod is inserted. The tongue will swell immediately after piercing. Indeed, it is important that the piercing is of a good size, so as not to cause severe pain in the wound, not to interfere with chewing, and not to damage the teeth.

3 / How much does it hurt?

Tongue piercing pain varies from person to person. Because the tongue is relatively thick and contains many nerves, this piercing is generally more painful than an ear piercing that simply goes through the skin. But professionals are used to this, so the instant pain should go away quickly, but discomfort will appear in the following hours. To relieve pain, cold from an ice cube should help and may bring relief for the first few days.

4 / Potential risks

No piercing without risk. Whether it is a navel, ear or lip piercing, the tissue is pierced and therefore can become infected. The most common complications are inflammation, infection, or allergic reactions. But there may be other side effects as well.

Damage to teeth and gums

The greatest risk from tongue piercings is associated with teeth, enamel, and gums, as jewelry constantly touches them while talking, chewing, or playing with them. This can cause wear on the enamel or small cracks. And once the enamel is damaged, the teeth become more sensitive. In extreme cases, tongue piercing can lead to tooth breakage, injury to the neck and roots of the teeth, or even complete tooth displacement.

To avoid these dental problems, avoid metal jewelry and instead opt for plastic models that, if they wear out faster, will not damage your teeth.

Slurred speech (zozing)

In addition to damaging the teeth, tongue piercings can also lead to joint problems if the jewelry in the mouth restricts the tongue's movement. For this reason, sometimes individual letters such as "S" may not be pronounced correctly.

Loss of taste

There are many taste buds on the tongue that can be damaged during piercing. Depending on the location of the decoration, in rare cases, a loss of taste is possible. Poison piercings pose this particular risk because most of the nerves are located on the sides of the tongue, not in the middle.

Read Also: 30 Ear Piercing Ideas That Will Convince You Once and For All

5 / Correct reflexes

Here are some tips to follow to avoid this damage:

  • Your tongue is pierced by a professional,
  • Choose jewelry made from synthetic material,
  • Do not play with oral piercings,
  • Do not hold the thrusting ball with the incisors,
  • Do not rub the piercing with your teeth
  • Visit your dentist regularly to recognize possible damage while there is still time,
  • If teeth are damaged, remove tongue jewelry immediately.

6 / The piercing is infected: what to do?

Inflammation is usually quite rare. Your piercing is infected if:

  • The puncture site is very red, ulcerated, and oozing fluid.
  • The tongue is swollen and painful
  • Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck,
  • A white layer forms on the tongue.

If your tongue swells while piercing, avoid contact. It is also helpful to drink chilled chamomile tea, avoid acidic, spicy and dairy foods, and talk very little so that the piercing can rest.

If the discomfort persists after two days, immediately contact the piercing studio (ideally, the one that pierced you) or a doctor.

7 / How much does tongue piercing cost?

The cost of a tongue piercing depends on which type of piercing you choose. Also, prices vary depending on the studio. A classic tongue piercing, including jewelry and care, usually costs between 45 and 70 euros. To check, you can usually find the price on the studio's website. Take the opportunity to see how the piercing parlor is ranked in the search engines.

8 / Healing and appropriate care

Tongue piercings usually leave scars after four to eight weeks. However, in some cases it may take longer. To avoid problems during the healing process, several precautions must be taken.

  • Do not touch the piercing with unwashed fingers.
  • In the early days, speak as little as possible
  • Disinfect your mouth after every meal to prevent bacteria build-up.
  • Brush your teeth regularly and thoroughly
  • Avoid nicotine and alcohol for seven days after piercing.
  • Also avoid acidic and spicy foods and dairy products to avoid irritation. Liquid food is recommended during the healing phase of the piercing,
  • Ice cubes and iced chamomile tea can help fight swelling.

9 / Featured products

To avoid annoying piercings at first, some foods are better than others.

It is advisable to avoid spicy foods and dairy products, as they contain bacteria that can inflame the puncture wound. The acidity of the fetus is also detrimental to wound healing. It is also best to avoid very hot and very cold foods. If the tongue remains swollen at first, it is recommended that you continue to eat porridge and thinner foods such as soups and mashed potatoes.

10 / Change of decorations: which ones will work?

Once the piercing is completely healed, the medical jewelry inserted during the piercing can be replaced with other jewelry of your choice. The choice of jewelry depends on the type of piercing.

For tongue piercing, jewelry in the form of a straight bar with a length of about 16 mm and a rod thickness of about 1,2-1,6 mm is suitable.

The thickness of the ball at the end of the barbell is usually 5-6 mm. It is also recommended to use a Bioflex gem, that is, an autoclave gem that is more flexible and less aggressive to the teeth. But there are many models available among the barbell.

11 / Will the piercing close if I take it off?

Once the jewelry has been removed, the time to re-seal the piercing depends on where it is and how long it has been worn. Most piercings will close again after a few days and usually leave a small scar if removed.

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​​​​​​Important Note: The information in this article is for information only and does not replace a diagnosis made by a physician. If you have any doubts, urgent questions or complaints, you should see your doctor.