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. Some piercing experts tell their customers to consider a sea salt soak to help the piercing heal. This ensures the health of your piercing over the long term. Placement: Located below the lip on both the left and right side. Those done on your tongue are especially delicate. Healing time: A tongue piercing heals fairly quickly, taking anywhere from four to eight weeks. Look for jewelry made with steel, titanium, or 14-karat gold. All rights reserved. (2014). Jewelry worn in tongue piercings can chip and crack your teeth and damage your gums. Changing out a tongue piercing is completely possible, and in most cases, can be done by yourself at home. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. clear or white discharge. Much of the bacteria is introduced by eating and drinking. Ludwigs angina is an infection that can occur in your mouth. ", Center for Young Women's Health (Boston Children's Hospital): "Body Piercing. This does mean that while an oral piercing is healing, you don't want saliva or bodily fluids from anyone else near it. Oral cleansers that contain hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, and other antibacterial ingredients can also harm healthy skin cells and slow down the healing process. Body piercing: Complications and prevention of health risks. Angel Bites Piercing Process: This piercing process is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16 gauge piercing needle. And, for mouth piercings where the jewelry will potentially make contact with your teeth and gums, its especially important. Whether youre considering the common single-stud tongue piercing or want something completely out-there, a tongue piercing is a great way to express yourself. Find out more about tongue piercings here. Regular cleansing is the best way to flush out bacteria and prevent further irritation. Tongue piercings especially new ones are more prone to infections than other piercings because of all the bacteria in your mouth. As long as the jewelry can move freely after it's nested, there's no need to worry. After your tongue has healed, take the jewelry out every night and brush it the way you brush your teeth. 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. (n.d.). Discuss this with your piercer before the procedure. You should avoid chewing on non-food items such as gum, pencils, fingernails, tobacco and sunglasses. Check the quality of the body jewelry material to be sure the metal is crafted from high grade titanium or 14k gold. Any symptoms beyond this may be a sign of infection or a poor piercing job. Your piercing professional will clean the area again. If someone recommended cocoa butter for tattoo aftercare, you might want a second opinion. 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. People whove had it done rate the pain around 35 on a pain scale with 10 being the highest. You can expect short-term symptoms likepain, swelling, and extrasaliva. This will help prevent the strings from getting caught on your jewelry. Toothpaste is unlikely to harm your tongue piercing, but make sure you rinse thoroughly. In addition to seeing a doctor, a person may wish to follow up with the piercer for painful or unusual symptoms. The bags should be warm to the touch. However, the advice of a piercer is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor. "[With an] infection, your tongue is going to look absolutely wild," Myers shares. The type of piercing you choose represents a part of you. When that happens, she always advises going to the ER for professional help. If you dont want to take a temporary hiatus, cut back on your usual intake until the infection clears. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Also, dont forget that piercings come with two charges: the actual piercing and the jewelry. Pricing: $40 to $100 per piercing. Avoid alcohol-based rinses. Last medically reviewed on January 14, 2020, Sometimes, the body will reject a piercing. The bad news: All piercings hurt. I got my tongue pierced 8 days ago. ", Mouth Healthy (American Dental Association): "Oral Piercings. On the other hand, Loheide says to expect it to take about three to five months to be fully healed. However, the healing process can take upward of. Heres what to do if your body rejects the piercing. After 10 minutes, rinse the affected area with warm water and gently pat dry with a clean paper towel. Certain styles of piercing jewelry is appropriate for certain types of piercings, so dont try to use a lip ring for as a tongue ring. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Once you leave the shop, you'll need to make sure your piercing heals and doesn't get infected. There are multiple types of tongue piercings, though. If you get a tongue piercing, the piercer will start with a larger "barbell" to give your tongue room to heal as it swells. For example, a study conducted by Her revealed that those who get a tongue piercing no matter the type have daring personalities who are also down for an adventure. Some people also choose to consume smoothies or other liquid foods for the first few days, until they adjust to eating with the jewelry in place. According to clinical sexologist and certified sex coach Sunny Rodgers, "Tongue rings and barbells do provide additional stimulation during oral sex for all genders. In fact, often there is no bleeding at all, but keep in mind that everyone will have a different experience depending on the type of piercing they choose, and their personal reaction to being pierced. "Once your piercing has healed and you become used to it, it is a no-fuss piercing that you can enjoy for years.". Many find the clamping more uncomfortable than the actual piercing. Its also common to see slight swelling about two days into the healing process. Healing time: About 3 months. This includes eating what you want, getting intimate, and switching out your jewelry. 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. Before getting a tongue ring, it is important that you understand the risks associated with piercing and the safety measures you can take to avoid them. If you have an OTC heat compress, microwave or heat as directed on the product packaging. Look for a piercer who has a license, which means they were specially trained. You can expect a tiny scar over each piercing site once the tissue grows in. ", TeensHealth.org: "Body Piercing & What to Expect.". Davies L. (n.d.). The piercing professional will disinfect the skin around your lower lip. Laser Tattoo Removal Can Cause Blisters Here's Why and How to Treat Them. Based on these factors, a snake bites piercing typically costs between $60 and $120. Anyone else inspired to get a tongue piercing right now? [12] 3. Depends on the body's reaction. Youll also want to ensure that any jewelry you select for your tongue piercing is of good quality. Suggested aftercare for oral piercings. Also, ensure your foods are coldhot foods can cause irritation. Both piercers strongly suggest using an alcohol-free mouthwash that won't burn your mouth. However, a person may still need time to adapt to the piercing. While the tongue may seem like a sensitive spot to pierce, thanks to its responsiveness to tastes and touch, its actually a relatively low-pain placement choice. Apply the tea bag to the inside of your elbow. How do you treat an infected belly button piercing? The name . Repeat this process as many times as needed. "We use surgical grade stainless steel barbells or implant grade titanium barbellswhichever clients [prefer]," says Dohoney. The jewelry is pushed through behind the needle to complete the piercing process. Cleaning your piercing is important, but its just one part of a larger care plan. Gently wipe the cloth or towel around each side of the jewelry. If you notice any signs of an infection, call your piercing professional or a healthcare professional immediately. But keep the area clean while waiting for it to close. The Answer May Surprise You. It can break off in your, , talk, or chew on it. Youre better off sticking with your cleansing and compress routine. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Learn about its symptoms and causes. Your dentist can monitor for changes and help ensure that your piercing doesnt cause such damages. DOI: Proper ice pack application for injuries. Youll need to be careful with the types of foods that you eat, as these can get stuck around the jewelry and make you uncomfortable. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. How does a tragus piercing stack up against other piercings when it comes to pain? Then, pull the bar out and place your new piece of jewelry through the hole. In these early days, it is vital to rinse the mouth with a saline solution several times each day. Note that's the size of an initial tongue piercing; once healed the length of the barbell can be shortened. Laser Tattoo Removal Can Cause Blisters Here's Why and How to Treat Them, use a soft-bristle toothbrush for cleanings, look for signs of complications especially an infection, engage in french kissing or oral sex until the piercing has completely healed, play contact sports with your jewelry in your tongue, smoke or drink alcohol during the healing process. In fact, that's a good sign because your unique anatomy will dictate where you can and can't get pierced, and any reputable piercer will ensure to take that into account, Loheide shares. Read on to find out what symptoms are typical during this time, how your aftercare may vary from week to week, when you can safely change your jewelry, and more. Before you even think about setting up your appointment, it's important to understand the risks associated with tongue piercings. Body piercing troubleshooting for you and your healthcare professional. You can change it yourself once its healed. All rights reserved. Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, bump at the front or back of the piercing. Tongue swelling after a new piercing can interfere with chewing and swallowing and sometimes breathing. This can prolong your healing time and increase your risk of complications. Get a new tooth brush and be diligent about keeping it clean while healing. The risk of infection also greatly decreases. We've got answers to all your piercing pain-related Qs. ), be careful when you eat (Avoid hard, crunchy, or spicy foods, as well as hot foods and drinks. This can trap bacteria and allow the infection to spread beyond the piercing site. X27 ; s reaction but its just one part of you products are for informational purposes only answers to your! Left and right side adapt to the inside of your elbow this piercing process: this piercing process this! In your,, talk, or 14-karat gold inspired to get tongue. 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