Wearing body jewelry is your choice, and it is an exciting one. Besides traditional piercings, people also may choose to pierce any of the following:
- Nostril or Septum
- Earlobe or cartilage
- Eyebrows
- Nipple or navel
- Tongue or frenulum
- Lips and cheek areas
- Genitals
Tongue piercings are common, yet exotic enough to be appealing. They are a discreet conversation piece that adds to your unique style. The tongue can be pierced in several different ways.
The most traditional tongue piercing is the midline tongue piercing, where the stud is placed in the center of the tongue. Venom piercings, where there are two piercings placed on each side closer to the front of the mouth, are also popular. The webbing under the tongue or the uvula can also be pierced.
Whichever style of tongue piercing you choose; you may find the following information helpful.
Why do females get tongue piercings?
Females often pierce their tongue because they like the way it looks. Feeling good about your appearance leads to higher self-confidence. Self-confidence shows through in everything you do from reading alone in the library, being on a job interview, singing on a stage in a crowded room, asking someone on a date, or just picking up some frozen peas at the local market.
Your confidence affects the way you carry yourself and communicate with others. Having high self-confidence makes you more attractive to those around you and tongue piercings enhance that powerful feeling.
Another reason females may get their tongues pierced is excitement. There is an adrenaline rush that occurs with the actual act of any piercing or tattoo. When shopping for the right artist to do it or finding the right jewelry to show it off, it is thrilling. There is a natural fear or feeling of nervousness, that occurs in the body just before the piercing. The rush can be as great as skydiving or other popular thrill-producing activities.
A third reason females report getting their tongue pierced is because it is believed to enhance sexual activities. There is obviously no science to support or debunk this theory, but it is often said that tongue rings are a fun benefit to intimate relations.
The jewelry can be used to increase pressure while touching your partner, which may increase satisfaction. Pierced partners may also use their jewelry to tickle or massage areas, intensifying arousal. Sex plays a significant role in our lives, so why not make the most of it?
How painful is it to get your tongue pierced?
Getting your tongue pierced, by a professional, is not very painful. When compared to other body piercings, like the eyebrow or the nose, most people will say that tongue piercings hurt much less.
The process usually starts with the piercer marking the tongue with a marker. This will give an accurate measure for the piercing. After marking the tongue, the piercer will ask for your approval of the placement before creating any permanent marks.
Not all artists use the same tools, and the same can be said for the professionals in the piercing industry. It is important to feel safe and to trust your piercer, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Once you have agreed on placement, it is common for your tongue to be held in place by a clamp. This allows the piercer to accurately place the stud. The most painful part of this piercing is usually the clamping, and before you know it, you are done.
Some pain can be expected immediately following the piercing. There will be some swelling and discomfort for one to five days. Most people experience some soreness on the underside of the tongue in the first day or two.
Days three and four sometimes bring soreness towards the back of the tongue and directly around the stud. Everybody is different, so do not compare your pain to what you hear or see online. If you are concerned, reach out to your piercer.
What can’t you do after getting your tongue pierced?
Getting your tongue pierced won’t cause a major disruption to your life. You should not need to spend any time away from school or work. Once you leave the studio, bling in your mouth, you can go about life as you know it.
Do not take the jewelry out for at least four weeks, or as instructed by your piercer. The piercing needs to heal and removing the post prematurely can increase the risk of infection or the hole closing. You do not want to touch the tongue or the new jewelry unnecessarily either in the early weeks. Our hands carry a lot of germs, and we do not want to spread them to the healing wound.
Do not smoke, vape, or drink alcohol in the first few days following your new piercing as you do not want to add to the risk of infection.
Avoid foods that are hard to chew, too salty, or spicy. They may irritate the wound before it has a chance to heal. In the first one to four days after being pierced, it may be easiest to stick to soft foods. Very cold drinks or shakes may ease the discomfort.
How quickly does a tongue piercing close?
Tongue piercings heal fast, and the saliva naturally produced in the mouth helps the process. The artist you choose to do the piercing will be able to give you an approximate healing timeline, based on the type of piercing and other unique factors.
Healing time may be affected by your hygiene, health, and other body characteristics. While a new piercing will feel much better after a few days, the fresh wound needs more time than that to heal. Most tongue piercings will typically heal within four to eight weeks.
If you remove your jewelry for more than the few minutes it takes to change the post before the wound is completely healed, the hole may close. If you unintentionally allow your piercing to close, re-piercing may be difficult because of scar tissue.
If you decide at any time that the piercing is not for you and you are trying to get the hole to close, the time needed will depend on how long you’ve had the piercing, oral hygiene, and your immune system.
A new piercing may close in a matter of hours or days, but a piercing that you’ve had for years will take many days or even weeks to close. Once the hole is closed it will be almost unnoticeable, with very little visible scarring.
How often do tongue piercings get infected?
Tongue piercings do not get infected or cause permanent damage very often when done professionally. They are more susceptible to infection and injury than piercings on other areas of the body.
Human mouths have a lot of bacteria in them so there is a chance of infection. Left untreated, bacterial infections can lead to toxic shock syndrome or blood poisoning. Oxygen helps wounds heal, and there is less airflow in the mouth, so tongue piercings must be cleaned regularly.
One of the main reasons you must get the piercing done by a professional is that they are trained to place a piercing correctly using sanitized equipment. Professional piercing artists are qualified to give proper aftercare instructions, which will help prevent complications. Piercing artists will also be able to recommend the correct jewelry size, which will prevent damage to the teeth, gums, and tongue itself.
Listen to your piercer! They know best and want you to enjoy your new body art in the safest way possible.