Tongue piercing - Definition and Overview

A pierced tongue

A tongue piercing is a piercing, placed in the center of the tongue to avoid hitting a nerve, and to avoid damaging the "webbing", the part under the tongue that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth. A tongue piercing usually takes 4-6 weeks to fully heal. Aftercare for a tongue piercing is to rinse the mouth with a medical grade oral rinse or if that is not available, a dilution of 4 oz of oral antiseptic with 4 oz of water. A regular mouth wash should not be used. Over-cleaning the piercing can prevent it from healing correctly. Teeth should be brushed three times a day when the piercing is healing, using a soft bristle tooth brush.

Piercing aftercare:

• Eat small portions of food at a time.
• Never touch it unless you wash your hands first.
• Do not use any kind of tobacco products.
• No other oral contact with other body fluids.
• Your piercing should not be exposed to any cosmetics like lotion or makeup.
• After the healing period is over you can change the post to a shorter size to make it more comfortable.
• Drink lots of fluids and don't over-clean your piercing.
• See also Body Piercing Aftercare for more information.

A common side-effect of tongue piercing is chipping of the front teeth as the tongue-stud comes into contact with the teeth during normal function. This may require cosmetic dentistry to restore the appearance of the teeth. Many tongue-studs submerge into the tissue as the tongue attempts to heal. This will require an oral surgeon to expose the lost tongue-stud and remove it from the dorsum of the tongue. The presence of large blood vessels supplying the area complicates this piercing. It is strongly reccomended that an experienced individual carries out this piercing, as there have been cases of severe bleeding that may be difficult to control without medical aid. It is very hard to speak correctly for a while after the piercing because of swelling and the jewelry. Like all body piercings, the jewelry should not be removed or replaced before the piercing is healed (6-8 weeks). As this piercing is technically inside the body, and will come into contact with food, smoke or anything else placed in the mouth, proper sterilization practice is of special importance, both at the piercing studio and during the healing period.

External link

Tongue Ring After Care (http://www.tongue-ring-aftercare.com/)