Tongue piercing: what you should know before doing it
A lot has happened in the piercing industry in recent years. In addition to tried and tested classics such as the navel, nose or eyebrow piercing, there are now also new and extremely unusual piercings that are a real novelty and cannot always be noticed at a glance.
A piercing that had its absolute trend peak in the 1990s, but which is still one of the most popular types of piercings today, is the tongue piercing. As the name already reveals, the tongue piercing is a jewel of the body. in the language.
But not all tongue piercings are created equal. We show you what the different variants are, what risks exist and what else you need to know before doing it.
Did you know that? Often, especially among adults, who were certainly not used to these fashions, piercings are combined with tattoos. Of course, these are very different tendencies, but in both cases you need to have different information before proceeding to change part of your body permanently.
Before you know everything about tongue piercing step by step, watch this short video everything you need to know before getting a tattoo.
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Tongue piercing: the different possible types
Almost everyone is familiar with the classic tongue piercing, which is located in the center of the muscle. But did you know that there are numerous places on the tongue that can be pierced? Here are the different variations:
Classic tongue piercing
The best known tongue piercing is a piercing that sits vertically in the center of the tongue. Usually a bar with a ball (barbell), which has a length of about 16 mm and a bar thickness of 1.2 to 1.6 mm, is used as a jewel.
Venom piercing
If the simple tongue piercing is too boring for you, you can wear several piercings next to each other or one after the other. The so-called venom piercing it is a double piercing, where one on the right and one on the left are placed vertically across the tongue muscle.
Potentially, you could have these different situations:
Piercing Scoop
The Scoop Piercing looks at first glance like the Venom Piercing. However, the Scoop is only a superficial piercing, which is not pierced through the muscle of the tongue, but only through the skin of the tongue.
The surface piercing usually heals after two weeks. However, it can be annoying especially when eating and taste perception can also be impaired. Mostly used as piercing jewelry is a 90 degree bent surface bar with a flattened ball.
Frenum tongue piercing
Another variant of the tongue piercing is the frenulum piercing, also known as the Marley piercing. Here, the small frenulum (similar to the smiley piercing) is pierced under the tongue. As the jewelry is constantly in contact with the lower teeth and gums, damage to the teeth can occur. In addition, there is a risk that the frenulum, for example when eating, entering or tearing.
A bananabell, a clamp ball ring, a horseshoe piercing or a straight barbell is mostly used as jewelry. In order for the jewel not to disturb the mouth, it must be as small as possible.
Snake piercing
Not only can the center of the tongue be pierced, the tip can also be decorated with one or more piercings. Since the piercing resembles a snake's head when the tongue is pulled out, this variant is called "Snake Piercing".
The Snake piercing is sadly not entirely harmless and is even rejected by some piercers. Not only can the healing process take a long time, but it can also lead to speech impairment, taste irritation and damage to the teeth.
MerkenIsabell SykesPiercings ohrImportant: No matter what piercing it is, always make sure you choose a professional piercing studio and an experienced piercer. If the piercing is done improperly, it can lead to severe inflammation.
Especially with the tongue piercing the piercer must be careful to find the right position, so that the teeth are not damaged and the frenum of the tongue is not injured. In addition, damage to the taste buds or speech disturbances can occur if the procedure is not done correctly.
How to do a tongue piercing
Before moving on to the actual piercing, you clean your mouth with the help of a disinfectant mouthwash and mark the place of the desired piercing.
The elongated tongue is then fixed with collets to prevent it from being retracted during the process. Now the tongue is pierced (mostly from bottom to top) with a special needle and the rod for piercing is inserted.
Immediately after the piercing, the tongue usually swells. Due to the swelling, it is important for the piercer to insert a slightly longer plug first. If the jewelry is too short, the piercing can put a lot of pressure and pain on the wound. However, if the bar is too long, it not only disturbs chewing, it can also damage the teeth.
Tongue Piercing: How Painful Is It?
The pain of a tongue piercing depends, of course, entirely on how strong your pain sensation is. Because the tongue is relatively thick and intertwined with many nerves, the piercing is not as painless as, for example, with a classic ear piercing, which is only pierced through the skin. The good news: the piercing usually ends after a few seconds.
Possible Risks of a Tongue Piercing
Since with all piercings, no matter whether the navel, ear or lip, the tissues are punctured and a foreign body is inserted, certain complications such as inflammation, infection or allergic reactions can never be completely ruled out.
Even a tongue piercing isn't completely harmless. In addition to inflammation, the following problems can occur:
Damage to the teeth and gums
The greatest risk with a tongue piercing is damage to the teeth, enamel and gums. This is because the piercing is constantly in contact with the teeth - be it talking, chewing or playing with the piercing.
This can cause the enamel to wear out over time or to form fine cracks. Once the enamel is damaged, the teeth are also more susceptible and sensitive.
In addition, a tongue piercing can cause the corners of the teeth to break, the necks and roots to be injured, or even the teeth to move, for example if you "suck" the ball with your incisors.
To avoid damaging your teeth, you should avoid metal jewelry and opt for plastic ones instead. Although there is a risk that plastic balls can be bitten and need to be replaced more often, teeth are rarely damaged.
Defects of pronunciation (lisp)
In addition to damage to the teeth, tongue piercing can also lead to speech defects, as jewelry in the mouth can limit the mobility of the tongue. As a result, individual letters, such as the "S", can no longer be pronounced correctly in some cases.
Loss of taste
There are numerous taste buds on the tongue that can be damaged during the piercing. Depending on the location of the hole, a loss of taste or a reduction in the intensity of flavors may occur in rare cases. Venom piercing is particularly risky, because most of the nerves are located on the side of the tongue.
Tongue piercing: how to avoid the risks
To avoid damage to teeth and the like, you need to adhere to the following rules:
- Get your tongue pierced by a professional piercer.
- Choose plastic jewelry.
- Do not play with the piercing in the oral cavity.
- Avoid the so-called "sucking". How: do not hold the ball of the piercing with the incisors.
- No sudden movement with the tooth piercing.
- Regular check-ups with your dentist to recognize damage in time.
- In case of damage to the teeth: remove the jewels for the tongue.
Infected tongue piercing: what to do?
Inflammations usually occur quite rarely with tongue piercings. However, it can happen from time to time - for example, if the piercing is exposed to severe pressure or friction. This is how you can tell your piercing is inflamed:
- The puncture site is red, ulcerated, and oozing liquid from the wound;
- The tongue is swollen and painful;
- The lymph nodes in the neck are swollen;
- A white coating forms on the tongue.
If your tongue piercing is inflamed, you absolutely must keep your fingers away from it and never play with it. It can also help to drink cold chamomile tea, avoid acidic, spicy and dairy foods, and speak very little so that the piercing can rest.
If the discomfort does not improve after two days, you should visit the piercing studio or a doctor.
Costs: How expensive is a tongue piercing?
The costs of the tongue piercing naturally depend first of all on which piercing you decide to do. In addition, prices vary from studio to studio and from region to region. For the classic tongue piercing you usually have to calculate around 50-80 euros.
In addition to the actual piercing, the jewelry that you bring to the beginning and the care of the piercing are often already included in the price. It is better to inquire before the appointment with the piercing about the costs that will be charged to you, many piercing studios have a website where you can usually find an overview of prices.
Tongue piercing - all about healing and proper care
The tongue piercing is usually healed within four to eight weeks. In some cases, however, it can take longer. To avoid problems during the healing process, you should be very careful after the piercing.
- Do not touch the piercing with your fingers. If this happens, thoroughly disinfect your hands first.
- Speak as little as possible during the first few days.
- Disinfect your mouth with a special mouthwash after each meal to prevent bacteria buildup.
- Brush your teeth regularly, but be careful not to accidentally tear the piercing.
- Avoid nicotine and alcohol until the piercing is completely healed, at least for the first seven days after the piercing.
- Avoid acidic and spicy foods and dairy products in the first period to avoid irritation. Liquid or pulpy food is best.
- Beware of kissing and oral sex.
- Ice cubes and cold chamomile and sage teas help with swelling.
Freshly Done Tongue Piercing: What Can I Eat?
In order not to irritate newly made tongue piercings or to avoid straining them with friction, certain foods should be avoided for the first few days or weeks.
These include, for example, spicy foods, strongly spiced meals, but also dairy products of any kind (yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, etc.), because they contain many bacteria that can inflame the wound in the mouth. Acid products and fruit acids also have a negative effect on wound healing. Very hot and very cold foods should be avoided.
If the tongue is still swollen at first, it is recommended to switch to porridge and liquid foods (soups, baby food, vegetable puree).
Tongue piercing: which jewelry is suitable?
If the piercing in the mouth is completely healed, the initial jewelry that was placed during the piercing can be changed by the piercer for other jewelry.
As there are different types of tongue piercings, there are naturally different types of jewelry.
Classic tongue piercings usually use a barbell (a rod with a larger ball on top and a smaller one below) with a length of approximately 16mm and a rod thickness of approximately 1.2 to 1.6mm. , while the thickness of the ball usually measures from 5 to 6 mm. It is also recommended to use a Bioflex jewel with a plastic ball to avoid damage to the teeth. As for the color and design, you can choose individually according to your taste.
For lateral tongue piercings a ring is often used as a jewel.
Does the piercing close if you take it off?
How quickly a piercing closes once removed depends entirely on the location of the piercing or how long it has been worn. Most piercings, especially those on the skin, usually leave a small scar or hole after removal.
If you have to remove your tongue piercing, for example due to an operation, you should know that in most cases the hole will heal after a few days, because the tongue is a muscle that is well supplied with blood.
Important Note: The information in this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for a diagnosis by a physician. If you have any uncertainties, urgent questions or complaints, you should contact your doctor.
