How To Get a Tongue Piercing

Deciding to get a tongue piercing is a major decision. After all, a hole is being put into the tongue. There are steps to take and standards to understand.

Before the decision is made, look at the different piercing establishments and check them out. The business should be licensed. Make sure there are separate rooms, and that they're clean, lit well, and have trained experienced people doing the piercing. It isn't wise to go somewhere that uses the piercing guns. They are not as sanitary, and are hard to clean. Before you get that tongue piercing, be sure the piercers use a new disposable needle for each piercing. And, be sure they are using new gloves, too.

Check to make sure the business has an autoclave, a machine used for sterilizing instruments. Ask questions regarding the tongue piercing procedure. If they avoid the question, or go around it without really answering, stay away from that establishment.

An anesthetic is not used for a tongue piercing. If you are too afraid of the pain, think about that before getting a tongue piercing. The tongue is pierced from top to bottom in the front third of the tongue. The blood vessels are avoided on the underside of the tongue. A piece of jewelry is then put into the hole, and is large enough to keep up with swelling. Be sure the jewelry is made of niobium, 14 karat solid gold, titanium, or surgical stainless steel.

Realize that after the tongue piercing, the proper care of it must be taken for up to 6 weeks. That's how long it usually takes for it to heal. The establishment should give you instructions on how to care for it, but in case they don't, or you want to know them ahead of time, here they are. At least a dozen times a day a diluted mouthwash should be used for one minute. It could be more, because that also means rinsing after eating, drinking and smoking. Do not use strong mouth rinses with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. Eat soft foods for one week after the tongue piercing. Sucking on ice can heal swelling. It is also good to rinse with a sea salt and water combination.

If anything unusual happens, fluids, bleeding, too much pain, or something else, see your physician right away. The jewelry should not come out until the tongue is completely healed. After it does come out, there will be some scar tissue. That will go down in time.