Once you get home, Loheide recommends immediately changing out your toothbrush for a new one and using milder oral hygiene products. Tattoo aftercare starts as soon as your tattoo is done. Plus, they arent intended to be used inside your mouth. Any new piercing can raise lots of questions. Before your appointment, it's imperative that you brush your teeth and tongue before arriving. If you get a tongue piercing, the piercer will start with a larger "barbell" to give your tongue room to heal as it swells. And in some people withheart disease, bacteria can lead to a condition that can damage yourheart valves. Ultimately, try to not go overboard with your piercing aftercare, because that could potentially case more irritation. Ashley Piercing Ashley Piercing Location: "It'll be two to three times the size, turning almost green or white, [with puss]." Your body is really good at healing itself.". So not only are you daring in the real world, but also in the bedroom. 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. Once the time comes to remove the jewelry used for the piercing, its best to see your piercer. However, the advice of a piercer is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor. This type of tongue piercing typically takes around four to six weeks to heal, though it will depend on your anatomy and body health. This largely depends on how closely you follow your aftercare instructions. 15. r/Stretched. This would require them to stay in the hospital or receive intravenous antibiotics. 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. Angel Bites Piercing Process: This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16 gauge piercing needle. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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. Those conditions includeheart disease,diabetes,hemophilia, andautoimmune diseases. With the constant movement of the two muscles that have been forcefully stuck together, it makes it incredibly difficult to heal.". The hole may also close up if you remove the jewelry too soon. Suck on ice chips or hold an ice pack to the pierced area for a few minutes, several times a day. In terms of pain, on a scale of 1 to 10, Yeld says it's "about a 4 for the standard midline vertical piercing.". A properly performed oral piercing will take only seconds to complete, with minimal discomfort and bleeding. Plaque buildup is responsible for foul breath, and having a tongue piercing can give plaque another area to build up on. Some hurt much more than others, and some may have longer healing times that can be uncomfortable for months. with germ-killing soap, wear fresh disposable gloves, and use sterilized tools or ones that are thrown away after one use. The Tongue Piercing: Everything You Need to Know. What to know about gargling with salt water. Make sure youre keeping the rest of your mouth clean, 7. It doesn't suddenly transform you into a fierce person who others won't mess with just because you have a tongue piercing. "We use surgical grade stainless steel barbells or implant grade titanium barbellswhichever clients [prefer]," says Dohoney. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Many piercers can help with home remedies that ease discomfort and speed healing. 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. Just look to hashtags #tonguepiercing and #tonguepiercings on TikTok and Instagram, which have over 790 million views and 520,000 posts, respectively. "You need to understand that going into it, be okay with that risk, and also know what you have to do to minimize that risk," Loheide shares. Youll also be asked to fill out some paperwork, including a waiver. By this stage in the healing process, it should have become less painful and will start to feel relatively normal. Once you get home, Loheide recommends immediately changing out your toothbrush for a new one and using milder oral hygiene products. Oral health topics: Oral piercing. But you still have to be mindful of how your mouth and tongue feel when you do eat or drink certain things. The way a tongue is pierced involves clamping the appendage with forceps to hold the tissue. Drinking lots of cool water will help with some of that.". A tongue piercing could cause several immediate and long-term effects that negatively impact your oral health. Learn more about piercing rejections here. Tongue piercing healing process and care guide [Blog]. Elegant Roses. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should still clean your piercing once its healed, but youll have more flexibility in how often you do so. A snake bites piercing is a double lip piercing that sits near the outer corners of the lower lips edge. 7 days ago. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. After a few months, the body treats the piercing as a scar, and the piercing is less likely to close without jewelry in it. For those who are unfamiliar, this style typically refers to a horizontal tongue piercing at the tip of the tongue. Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a Canada-based freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. In this case, start with a cold compress and switch to a warm compress as needed. 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 most common piercing is the midline, which is also commonly called a vertical piercing. Youll also want to ensure that any jewelry you select for your tongue piercing is of good quality. Watch what you eat and drink until its fully healed, uhs.berkeley.edu/health-topics/body-piercings, safepiercing.org/docs/APP_Troubleshooting_Print.pdf, health.clevelandclinic.org/should-you-use-ice-or-heat-for-pain-infographic/, authoritytattoo.com/infected-tongue-piercing/, goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/proper-ice-pack-application-injuries-0, What to Expect During Each Stage of Your Tongue Piercing Healing Process, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Piercing Aftercare, Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC-BC. According to Healthline, while your tongue piercing is healing, you may notice some changes. If you notice any signs of an infection, call your piercing professional or a healthcare professional immediately. Keeping your head elevated at night can reduce swelling of your body piercing. Avoid alcohol-based rinses. Luckily, not every tongue piercing will become infected. Matheron E, et al. This is considered the final stretch in your tongue piercing healing process. A tongue piercing is any body modification that involves piercing a piece of jewelry through the tongue. Learn how to care for your tattoo, what to expect in the first month, the signs of infection, New research highlights the lack of oversight and regulation regarding the production of tattoo ink in the US and suggests some ingredients may carry, After getting a new tattoo, the outer layer of skin will typically appear healed within 2 to 3 weeks. As the name suggests, the placement of the piercing resembles a snake bite. [11] 2. Apply the tea bag to the inside of your elbow. Dont put things in your mouth like pens and other things that carry bacteria. "Tongue piercings are a great way to add some decoration to your mouth, as they sit like a pearl inside a clam, and your options for jewelry are limitless," says Sydney, Australia-based piercer Samantha Josephine. To do this: OTC antibiotics have long been used to treat infections. 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. DOI: Holbrook J, et al. This reduces the risk of accidentally introducing additional bacteria to the site. Like any piercing, the price of a tongue piercing will vary depending on your specific circumstancesthat includes your location, the shop/piercer you choose, the exact piercing, and more. Its a great idea to talk to your piercer about what they recommend, even if youve done your researchtheyre always going to be the experts on the matter (even more so than Google). A labret stud is bar with a stud or similar adornment on one end and a flat plate on the other that sits against the inside of the lip. In general, maintaining good oral hygiene brushing your teeth regularly and flossing is important. Floss your teeth once a day. "Fortunately, I was able to take the person to the operating room, remove the piercing (which was difficult because half of it became incorporated into the swollen tongue), incise the tongue, tie off a bleeding artery and well as cauterize the muscles, and then suture the tongue back together," Dr Voigt shares. Loheide likes Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse because it doesn't taste as bad as some alcohol-free mouthwashes do, it's affordable, and can be found in most drug stores. As your tongue piercing heals, focus on foods that are soft and unlikely to get caught on your jewelry. This may last until the tenth day or so, but it will eventually go down. There are multiple types of tongue piercings, though. Not eat spicy, salty, or acidic foods and drinks. The type of piercing you choose represents a part of you. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? Just make sure your cloth can be sealed or folded so that none of the added ingredients can fall out. 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. A double vertical is a little more painful because it goes directly through the tongue muscle. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. And if you had hopes of getting that piercing, keep dreaming. Rinse with water (bottled or filtered) thoroughly . The needle is new and has never been used. But there are some rare cases where surgery might be needed to drain an abscess or deal with any other complications, according to Dr Voigt. An oral (mouth) piercing is a small hole in yourtongue, lip, cheek, or uvula (the tiny tissue at the back of your throat) so you can wear jewelry. Still, the amount of swelling shouldnt keep you from drinking water or talking. You can eliminate salt rinses, but be sure to stay on top of your oral health to prevent any problems. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25690049, http://www.cdho.org/Advisories/CDHO_Factsheet_Oral_Piercing.pdf, https://www.cieh.org/media/1975/tattoo-toolkit_part-c_03-oral-piercing-aftercare.pdf, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3926233/, https://www.safepiercing.org/docs/APP_OralMinors_Print.pdf, https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/basics/threats-to-dental-health/tongue-piercing-not-that-risky-but-things-can-go-wrong, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2852294/. "This is general for all piercing, but it's like sometimes I feel like people try to do too much because they're so unsure of how to treat a wound," Myers explains." (2020). If youre not sure, check with your piercing professional and have them do it for you. Other early signs of infection include: persistent warmth . This includes the tongue, lips, and cheeks. But, if its stubborn and hard to remove, have a professional do it instead. 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. This may lead to broken teeth, infections in the gums or teeth, and similar oral health problems. We spoke to Josephine and other experts about tongue piercings, what they entail, and if you should get one. If you dont experience any redness or other signs of irritation, it may be safe to apply a chamomile compress to your piercing. Basically, any possible arrangement of a vertical or horizontal piercing is possible on the tongue. 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