So, finally, you have made up your mind and decided to get your tongue pierced! But before you actually go under the scissors or that pin like structure on your tongue – how about knowing a few things about tongue piercing? That is precisely what we are here to help you with. With the fad of tongue piercing picking up among the youngsters, isn’t it an excellent option to find every information you should be aware of?
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Tongue piercing is an excellent option and quite a fun thing to involve with. Getting your tongue pierced is not that easy and simple. They may not be aware of the issues involved in tongue piercing and the hazards that they may come across. So let us go ahead with the information.
Can I get my tongue pierced?
Well, the tongue piercing process is not something that it would suit everything. Only a few among those who are looking to get the tongue pierced can have it without complexities. So, whom does the tongue piercing suit?
Here are the situations where you should not go for tongue piercing –
- People with smaller tongues should get the tongue pierced. Check if you can stick out your tongue far enough.
- Those who do not have their veins in the right place. If the veins are at the centre, you may end up harming the vein.
- If you have any type of medical conditions. Some examples are paralysis, any sort of nerve issues or similar health conditions that have anything to do with the nerves.
- Your age is one of the factors that need attention. Any age between 14 to 16 is considered to be unsuitable for tongue piercing.
- If you have too much of webbing on your tongue far up the tongue.
What is the right age for getting your tongue pierced?
There are different age groups you should be careful enough before getting tongue pierced. The laws are specific to region and states. Consult your local law enforcing agencies to get a clear understanding of the age groups supported.
If you are in the US, you will need parental consent if you are minor i.e below the age of 18. Some stares in the US make it compulsory for the parents to be present during the tongue piercing process. In fact, there are a few states in the US where there is no age limit for the tongue piercing.
In the UK, the age group between 14 to 16 needs parental consent, while those between 16 to 18 do not have any such requirements.
Moreover, the tongue piercing studios may have their own standards specified. Get the information from the studios and your local authorities before opting for piercing your tongue.
What should you know before getting your tongue pierced?
There are several myths doing the rounds with respect to tongue piercing. One of them includes the misconceptions that the pierced tongue gets infections rather easily. In fact, you will need to take care of your pierced tongue for a better healing.
Another myth is you should control eating and drinking. Of course, you need to give enough time to the piercing to heal, but nothing you eat or drink will affect it if it is healed.
Choose a studio for your tongue piercing based on a few important factors. Make sure the tongue piercing studio you have chosen has enough experience. The experience level of the piercers that it employs should also matter enough. Check if they have the government or other statutory approval for piercing your tongue er.. we mean tongue piercing.
Also, share the complete information of your health with the studio. It would be practical to share all information including your medical history with the studio. You may consider these factors not important, but they can become the reasons for major complications later on.
The Tongue piercing process
The tongue piercing is a process that needs special care. Before beginning the process of tongue piercing, they will check your veins. Ideally, a studio makes use of the blue light for locating the veins. Once the position is made clear, they will be able to find the right location for piercing.
After the right position is found, they will clamp your tongue and pierce the tongue at the right kind of positioning. Once that done, the piercer will remove the needle and then replace it with the tongue piercing jewellery. That completes the piercing task and you will be asked to check the functionality and comfortability before you leave.
The Aftercare is Most important for tongue piercing
More than the process of tongue piercing itself, the aftercare assumes a lot of importance. Ideally, the piercer will let you know enough about the aftercare. They will either provide you with a booklet or such other literature or give you the handwritten instructions.
Ensure you are using a clean toothbrush after your tongue piercing. It is advisable to use an alcohol-free toothpaste and mouthwash. Using alcohol may aggravate the conditions.
A few other preventive actions you need to take care of would include
- Avoid consuming hot beverages like coffee or tea until the piercing has healed.
- Avoid aspirin and paracetamol as these medications are known too aggravate the conditions.
- Do not consume alcohol.
- Avoid having any kind of oral relationship for a period of three months to let the piercing get healed. This includes kissing or oral sex. You may develop infections.
What is the ideal healing time required?
Tongue piercing should ideally take no more than four weeks. Under normal circumstances, your piercing should heal between two to four weeks. The actual healing time may depend upon the person and their health conditions. The maximum time taken would be around eight weeks.
Ensure that you clean up your mouth at least two times a day. You should not have any issues brushing your teeth in the normal manner. It is advisable to use warm water. It may be a good idea to wash your mouth with hot water every time you eat something – at least until it heals.
If you are getting your tongue swollen, there is nothing to worry about. It is quite normal for the tongue to swell after piercing. It could be quite worst for the first three days or so.
What to eat and what to avoid
Practically speaking, you should be able to eat and drink anything as such. However, during the initial days, you can consume the following foods to avoid irritation –
- Non-spicy soups
- Salmon or tuna
- Pizza
- Ice cream
- Sandwiches with soft bread and meats
- Noodles or pasta
- Smoothies
- Salads and
- Non-acidic fruit
Some of the that may be good enough to avoid would include
- Coffee or tea
- Pineapple, kiwi, pickles, lemons, or anything sour
- Cookies, nuts, crackers, chips, and granola bars
- Peanut butter and caramel
- Spicy foods
The Concluding Thoughts
Well, tongue piercing is a fad among the youth and possibly a huge fashion symbol. However, the American Dental Association and a few other associations consider it to be causing damage to your mouth. In any case, if you take enough care, you can get it done. In fact, what should make your tongue piercing successful is the right kind of aftercare.
So, choose the right kind of studio and get the best options working in your favour. Share your experiences with us.
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