Tongue Piercing: An Overview

Tongue Piercing: An Overview: Inside Mouth Piercing Types

Having your tongue pierced is an excellent way to distinguish yourself from the crowd.

Since there are so many options for placement, type of jewelry, and design, your tongue piercing would still be uniquely yours even if everyone you knew got one.

It’s a deceptive piercing that’s out of sight while your mouth is closed yet center stage when your teeth are apart.

A tongue piercing is a terrific way to represent who you are, whether you want something out there or are thinking of going with the standard single-stud design.

Given that tongue piercings nestle like a pearl inside a clam and you have an endless array of jewelry possibilities, they’re a terrific way to adorn your mouth.

It’s a no-fuss piercing that you may enjoy for years to come once it heals and you get used to it.

What is tongue-piercing? Tongue-piercing meaning

A tongue piercing is a type of body piercing that typically passes through the tongue’s center.

Its popularity has recently increased after declining around 2011, making it the second most popular piercing among young women (18 to 25 years old) in 2019.

The ritual of acquiring a tongue ring was meant to be a painful way to display one’s respect for the gods and oneself.

More than being an artistic or decorative practice, tongue piercings originated as a religious ritual.

Although it was more common for males than women to acquire and be connected with punk culture in the 1990s and early 2000s, it has become fairly unpopular among men these days.

The most popular type is a midline piercing, which is one hole through the middle of the tongue.

Commonly, a hollow 16- or 18-gauge piercing needle is utilized to perform this procedure.

Tongue-piercing placement

Incorrect placement of a tongue piercing can cause the top ball to protrude awkwardly toward the wearer’s teeth.

The ideal location for a tongue piercing is in the center of the tongue, about 3/4 of an inch from the tip.

Additionally, it is typically positioned just in front of the lingual frenulum’s attachment.

Tongue-piercing jewelry

The most often worn jewelry is a ball-shaped piercing; cylindrical and cone piercings are much less common.

In its simplest form, a barbell is a metal bar with a small bead attached to each end. Usually, one of the beads can be removed and the other can’t.

A tongue piercing is made by pushing a barbell through the opening behind the needle.

Barbells for tongue piercings have to be straight. It would be best to avoid getting a tongue piercing done if it requires the use of a curved barbell.

What kind of jewelry is used for piercing the tongue?

Surgical-grade stainless steel barbells or implant-grade titanium barbells, depending on the preferences of the clients, are what we use.

Stainless steel, especially implant-grade stainless steel, is the most popular metal used to create jewelry for body piercings.

Because stainless steel is available in so many forms and has so few drawbacks, most people can tolerate it.

However, those who are allergic to nickel should avoid this metal because it might irritate their skin.

Titanium: Since titanium doesn’t contain nickel, it won’t irritate the area where the piercing is made or result in any allergic reactions.

Titanium is lightweight, non-corrosive, and available in a variety of colors and designs.

Tongue-piercing types

There are seven (7) types of tongue piercings and they are explained in detail below:

Frowny piercing location: a puncture made through the thin layer of skin that joins your mouth and lower lip.

It takes 4–8 weeks to heal and a curved barbell is the recommended jewelry.

Smiley piercing: Lip piercings are made through the very thin skin that separates the upper lip and the mouth.

It takes 4–8 weeks to heal and a horseshoe ring is the recommended jewelry.

Midline tongue piercing: The most popular type of tongue piercing is called a midline piercing, which is done with a straight barbell inserted into the middle of the tongue.

It takes 4-6 weeks to heal and straight barbells are the recommended jewelry.

Snake eyes piercing: penetrates the tip of your tongue horizontally.

Similar to a venom piercing, but more on the sides of the tongue, is this horizontal tongue piercing.

It takes 6-9 weeks to heal and curved barbells are the recommended jewelry.

Tongue frenulum piercing: This tongue web puncture passes through the webbing that underlies your tongue and connects it to the floor of your mouth.

A hollow 16- to 20-gauge piercing needle is usually used for this particular piercing. It takes about 8–10 weeks to heal.

Other types of tongue piercings include:

• Uvula Piercing
• Venom Piercing

How much does tongue-piercing jewelry cost?

How much you pay for a piercing will vary based on where you live and which piercing shop you go to.

There are several varieties of tongue jewelry, like vibrating tongue piercings that are more expensive than a typical barbell.

To find out the cost of a tongue piercing, we advise contacting a qualified piercer.

To prevent a piercing rejection, make sure you leave the original piece of jewelry in until your tongue heals.

Tongue-piercing pain

A tongue piercing typically takes four to six weeks to heal.

Following a tongue piercing, pain and a variety of other healing symptoms are rather common.

The pain should subside over the course of a month, if not longer.

Tongue-piercing healing time

Tongue-piercing healing takes about eight to four weeks

A tongue piercing can take four to eight weeks to fully heal.

Until the tongue piercing is completely healed, which should take four to eight weeks, cleanse it two to three times a day with a sea salt rinse and refrain from engaging in any activity that could aggravate the area.

Tongue-piercing aftercare

During the first week or while your lip is swollen, limit your consumption of warm liquids, spicy and acidic foods, smoke, and alcohol.

In the healing process of your piercing, avoid using straws to drink.

Don’t consume any fizzy drinks for three to four days. They can sever the seal that is developing at the piercing location.

Basic hygiene

• Refrain from sharing cutlery and drinks.
• Before touching your piercing or the surrounding areas, always wash your hands.
• To speed up the healing process, you should invest in a new toothbrush and use it religiously.
• Avoid putting objects like pens and other bacteria-containing items in your mouth.
• Steer clear of oral s*x while you’re recuperating.

Tongue-piercing benefits

These are the main motivations, though there are more, according to the piercing arts.

Religious and cultural reasons: Some people choose to have tongue piercings done for the symbolic or religious meaning they represent.

The Indian sacred text Vedas describes Lakshmi, a goddess, as having a pierced nose, ears, and tongue.

It boosts confidence. Although it may seem insignificant, having a tongue pierced requires financial commitment.

Making such a costly decision that can change the way your body looks requires careful consideration.

This includes their capacity for audacious decision-making and their capacity for pain tolerance.

Self-expression: The majority of female tongue piercers do so to express themselves.

You can, for instance, wear a piercing to symbolize your interests, pastimes, sexual orientation, heritage, culture, etc.

It’s a fad: A few celebrities who have tongue piercings these days include some celebrities getting these piercings specifically for roles and others getting them to liven up their appearance.

A means of healing: After enduring a traumatic event or battling a physical or mental illness, many people choose to get body piercings.

Other benefits include:

• Serves a decoration
• Calls attention
• They heal faster than other types of piercings
• Pleasure

How to prevent and manage swelling

Most body piercings heal quickly and with little pain, edema, or bleeding if done correctly and taken care of.

Here are some tips to help reduce pain and swelling:

• The best remedy for preventing swelling is ice. Several times a day, for a few minutes, apply an ice pack or suck on ice chips to the area that has been punctured.
• Your body piercing may swell less if you sleep with your head up. While you sleep, raise your head with a couple of pillows.
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen (Advil), can be used to prevent or lessen swelling.

People frequently worry about getting sick, especially after getting an oral piercing, because they think the mouth is dirty.

After all, so many bacteria and germs can enter the mouth through normal mouth functions, including eating, drinking, talking, and even breathing.

Side effects of tongue piercing

Although some people can get their tongues pierced without any problems, you might not be as fortunate.

It is dangerous, after all, to put a foreign object through such an important area of your body.

It is important for speaking, eating, swallowing, and chewing; thus problems with it will affect many aspects of your life.

The following are some potential issues that could arise after a tongue piercing:

Edema: Swelling occurs when the region surrounding a tongue piercing enlarges and does not contract again.

Regardless of how long ago the piercing was done, the amount of everyday activity that the tongue experiences makes this an extremely common adverse effect.

A sign of improper aftercare is an infection, which occurs when germs enter the piercing site and proliferate.

For tongue piercings, swelling, soreness, bleeding, and pain are typical infection symptoms.

Dental erosion: This is the process by which the tongue piercing gradually wears down the tooth.

The frequent rubbing of a metal object against the inside of your teeth can easily cause harm to them.

Though they could appear trendy and enjoyable, tongue piercings can be very risky.

Gushing blood: Since the tongue has many blood veins, bleeding is typically the most common issue.

Untrained piercers may strike one of these blood vessels and raise the risk of bleeding issues if they are unaware of their locations.

Nerve damage: You will feel excruciating agony if one of the tongue’s two nerves is injured by a tongue piercing.

In the end, you can completely lose your sense of taste.

Additional adverse effects of tongue piercings include:

• Broken teeth
• Hypersensitivity to metals
• More salivation
• Irregularities in speech
• Having trouble swallowing
• Poor breath

Avoiding dental problems

A few brief lifestyle adjustments can help avoid tongue-piercing-related dental issues.

Chewing on non-food objects like pencils, gum, fingernails, cigarettes, and sunglasses is not something you should do.

Hot, spicy, salty, and acidic meals should also be avoided while your tongue heals if you’re an experimental eater.

Certain dentists claim that certain restorations, such as porcelain or porcelain and metal crowns, could break as a result of a tongue piercing.

Instead of using metal balls or barbells in certain situations, some dentists advise using acrylic ones.

You may wear your tongue piercing proudly and yet take good care of your oral health with the right care and attention, even if most dentists find the concept of something foreign in your mouth unsettling.

When to see your doctor

Many questions can arise with any new piercing. Those applied to your tongue are particularly sensitive.

Please do not hesitate to contact your piercer with any questions you may have about the healing process, aftercare, or outcomes.

It is not appropriate to treat an infection that you believe you have developed from your piercer.

If you see any indications of an infection or are in excruciating pain, you should contact your doctor.

A tongue piercing heals rapidly and rarely causes major issues for most people who take the proper precautions to keep it clean.

Although it could swell and pain for a few days, these are typical signs of the healing process.

Although they are not typical, severe discomfort, persistent swelling, difficulty speaking, and trouble eating can all be treated.

Any of these symptoms should prompt a person to consult a physician or other healthcare professional.

FAQs

How painful is a tongue piercing?

In general, people claim that the pain is among the least uncomfortable to receive.

However, each person’s threshold for pain is unique.

Some people rate the pain of a midline piercing as an eight or even nine on a pain scale of ten, however, this is not always the case.

What is the main reason for a tongue piercing?

Even though tongue piercing is a relatively recent “trend” in North American culture, it has a long history dating back to the Maya and Aztec cultures.

Getting a tongue ring was meant to be a sign of respect for the gods and a way to express one’s honor through suffering.

What are the disadvantages of tongue piercing?

Although tongue-piercing fads come and go, the consequences can endure a lifetime for those who have them.

Tongue piercings have been linked to tooth loss, drooling, infections, chipped teeth, gum and nerve damage, and taste loss, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Is it good to get a tongue pierced?

On the other hand, a tongue piercing offers major and very real health risks to the recipient.

Regarding tongue piercings, the American Dental Association and the Canadian Dental Association have both expressed strong opinions.

To put it briefly, they both discourage it.

How long till you can talk after a tongue piercing?

You should anticipate some affected speech over the first few days following the piercing.

Most people can pick up tongue-piercing communication rather fast.

Speak with your piercer about the placement and any tips they may have for adjusting to the piercing.

What happens if you pierce your tongue wrong?

The tongue bar may become tangled around the teeth or tongue if it is too lengthy.

A tongue bar can be torn out of the tongue in a manner akin to an earring being torn out of the ear.

This is not only quite painful but also very difficult to fix.

Does tongue-piercing make your breath smell?

Halitosis, or bad breath, is a major issue associated with body piercings

If dental plaque is not removed appropriately, it can accumulate around these piercings and cause bad breath.

Avoiding mouth or tongue piercings is the easiest approach to preserving your perfect teeth and smelling good all the time.

What is the spiritual benefit of tongue piercing?

The Indian sacred text Vedas describes Lakshmi, a deity, as having a pierced nose, ears, and tongue.

A tongue piercing, along with other types of body art, showcases an individual’s abilities.

This includes their capacity for audacious decision-making and their capacity for pain tolerance.

What should I do if I swallow my tongue piercing?

If you swallow the balls or attachments from your tongue piercing, they normally pass through your digestive tract and end up in your stools.

The bar itself has a few extra moving parts.

If you are concerned, it is in your best interest to visit a physician and describe what has occurred to be on the safe side.

Do tongue piercings affect kizzing?

Does not affect how you kizz and it seems improbable that you could have done anything incorrectly.

Is kizzing better with tongue piercing?

It doesn’t add much feeling to oral sex, at least not for a female, and not nearly as much as you may expect.

The fact that you can see the piercing enhances the visual part of it, but the sensation is much the same.

Does tongue piercing affect speech?

According to our statistics, those that are worn for an extended period do not impair speech quality.

This applied to the analysis of the reading passage, word sequences, and the impromptu responses to the standardized test questions.

However, it is not possible to fully rule out a bias resulting from different utterance lengths.

How does a tongue piercing feel during oral?

For both men and women getting oral therapy, the sensation of a cold metal piece mixed with a warm tongue can be surprisingly delightful.

It can also be a little tease and increase pressure.

How do you brush your teeth with a tongue piercing?

The ideal type of toothbrush to use after receiving the treatment is one with soft bristles that can fit into tight spaces without being too harsh on the area.

Even though a brush with softer bristles is kinder, be sure you use caution and gentle strokes around the piercing as part of your regular dental hygiene regimen.

Can you do oral after tongue piercing?

After getting your treatment, a few brief lifestyle adjustments can also help you prevent some very significant issues.

During the healing period of your piercing, you should refrain from having oral six.

While the tongue is healing, it’s also best to avoid chewing on things like gum or mints.

Do tongue piercings get infected easily?

Given that all the bacteria in your mouth are present, the treatment, especially fresh ones, is more likely to become infected than other types of piercings.

Eating and drinking introduce a large amount of microorganisms.

Bacteria can also be spread through oral s*x, French kizzing, and other sexual activities.

What happens if you swallow the ball to your tongue ring?

After you swallow the balls or attachments, they normally pass through your digestive tract and end up in your stools.

The bar itself has a few extra moving parts. Talking to a doctor about what happened is the safest thing to do if you are scared.

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