The lowdown on getting a tongue piercing

A tongue piercing may seem like a thing of the ‘90s but just like belly button piercings, they’ve not disappeared from the ether entirely. A worthy piercing option if you need something discreet, there are definitely some things to consider before putting your tongue on the line, such as the pain, the price, the risk of infection and the correct aftercare protocol. Which is why we've answered all of your go-to questions so you can weigh things up once and for all and make a well-informed decision on whether you're a yay or nay.

How painful is a tongue piercing?

It's the first question we'd expect you to ask because you know how painful it is when you bite your tongue, let alone get a needle stuck through it. That's why you need to ensure you go to an experienced piercer who understand the anatomy. “The piercing itself is super quick and the procedure is not usually longer than a couple of minutes but anatomy checks may take a little while so you can expect an appointment to take anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes,” explains Jess Sellars, piercer and owner of The Luna Collective.

Pain is also something that's subjective and both Loheide and Myers say that the most uncomfortable part is having the piercer's hands in your mouth for an extended amount of time. Myers notes that on a scale of one to 10, most of her client's rate standard tongue piercings between a one to three, and paired tongue piercings a three to five.

Are tongue piercings dangerous?

Like any piercing, there's always a possibility of infection or rejection and sometimes the signs of infection can be easy to confuse with irritation in piercings - especially if you're extra paranoid. But New York City-based piercer Jenna Myers says that there tends to be a pretty big distinction between the two.

"[With an] infection, your tongue is going to look absolutely wild," Myers shares. "It'll be two to three times the size, turning almost green or white, [with puss]." When that happens, she always advises going to A&E for professional help. She also understands that some clients may be confused about whether a piercing is infected or not, so she'll tell them to come in for her to check the piercing beforehand.

Piercer and piercing mentor, Cat Chudyk says that while not always serious, tongue piercings can cause some kind of damage in the mouth, usually with your teeth: “Central tongue piercing is the best placement as this will limit damage to teeth and makes for easier healing and avoiding any issues. It’s when the jewellery is too long or badly sized or places in a poor position that damage can occur.”

Are horizontal ‘snake eyes’ tongue piercings safe?

You may or may not have heard of snake eyes before. For those who are unfamiliar, this style typically refers to a horizontal tongue piercing at the tip of the tongue. And if you had hopes of getting that piercing, keep dreaming. Unfortunately, experts say that tongue piercings should only go vertically through the tongue because horizontal placement comes with a big risk of damage to the teeth and gum recession.

"When we're piercing vertically, especially in the centre, we're piercing through a connective tissue between those muscles," Loheide explains. "But when you're piercing horizontally, you're actually pinning those muscles together, and that can cause a lot of damage." In the state of Oregon, America, they've even banned horizontal tongue piercings.

Can anyone get a tongue piercing?

Though everyone's tongue is different, Loheide says if your tongue is too short or you have a tongue-tie — which is basically when the webbing underneath your tongue comes almost or all the way to the tip — a tongue piercing is probably not the best option for you.

When you arrive at your appointment, don't be surprised if the piercer starts analysing your mouth. 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.

"We want to see where the blood flow is along the underside of the tongue and make sure that we're not too close to it," they explain. "But we also want to look at the shape of someone's teeth and someone's mouth when we're deciding placement." That way, a piercer can ensure that they aren't causing unnecessary damage and that the jewellery won't rub up uncomfortably against your teeth.

What can I expect during a tongue piercing appointment?

Before your appointment, it's imperative that you brush your teeth and tongue before arriving. Myers shares that typically her clients are given mouthwash right before to help clean their mouths out.

As mentioned above, most of your appointment will be spent on prepping and checking your tongue before the needle is inserted. The actual piercing part of the session is short, just like most other piercings — a hollow needle is pushed through the tongue, and then the piercer adds the jewellery, which is a barbell shape.

"Paired tongue piercings, aka venoms, are a lot more anatomy-dependent because those are placed closer to the major veins in your tongue so we have to make sure that there's space around that blood flow for them to be placed safely," says Myers.

What are the rules after getting your tongue pierced?

There are a few things to expect immediately after your piercing. If you've been pierced before, some of these won't be too shocking, but there are certain effects that are specific to tongue piercings.

Right after your appointment, expect your tongue to be a bit swollen and painful for about one to two weeks, according to Loheide. That's naturally going to happen because the piercing is a fresh wound. In addition to the pain and swelling, you'll also deal with a slight lisp or change in how you speak. "After about a week, the swelling will go down, and then the rest of the healing process is pretty easy," they share.

Myers estimates that for a single tongue piercing, it will take about one to three months and three to five for paired piercings. "Because the tongue is so vascular, it has a lot of blood flow to it, so it heals really quickly," she says. On the other hand, Loheide says to expect it to take about three to five months to be fully healed.

Thankfully, the aftercare for tongue piercings isn't too complicated. In general, maintaining good oral hygiene — brushing your teeth regularly and flossing — is important. Once you get home, Loheide recommends immediately changing out your toothbrush for a new one and using milder oral hygiene products. They advise avoiding toothpaste with whitening ingredients. Both piercers strongly suggest using an alcohol-free mouthwash that won't burn your mouth too and using this around four times a day in the first few weeks.

You might want to consider your habits too. “We recommend to avoid spicy foods and alcohol for the first few weeks as they can make swelling a lot worse,” says Jess. “Smoking, vaping, kissing or any other oral contact is ok but always rinse the mouth out after, either with mouthwash or plain water. Drinking lots and lots of water and keeping hydrated will also help with the swelling.”

“Downsizing is the most important part of the aftercare - the first one being after 7-10 days, then potentially again after another four weeks but always keep in contact with your piercer.”

Can you change a tongue piercing yourself?

Changing it yourself is relatively easy, admits Cat but getting them to change it is even better as it can be tricky. “You should always buy jewellery from or with the help of a skilled piercer as they will ensure you are wearing the correct size and grade jewellery,” she advises.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLjApqauqp2WtKLGyKecZ5ufY8Kse8Crq6KbnJp8tbvNoKyeZaCesrOvyKeerA%3D%3D