How to care for a tongue piercing: STEP BY STEP

If you want to get a tongue piercing, you should know that today you can decorate that area in the most diverse and original way. Horizontally or vertically, the most popular and requested types of tongue piercing are:

• Traditional: for the traditional tongue piercing, a vertical piercing is made right in the center of the tongue where, later, the decorative jewel will go.
• At the tip of the tongue: the piercing on the tip of the tongue is done vertically, right at the end of said organ.
• Horizontal: is the one that is done by crossing the tongue in its entirety horizontally (from one side to the other).
• Surface: It is a variety of horizontal piercing in which the piercing does not go through the entire tongue and is somewhat more superficial.
• Sublingual: It is performed by piercing the frenulum of the tongue horizontally.
• Viper: consists of the realization of two vertical perforations on both sides of the tongue.

Image: Pinterest

Proper oral hygiene is the key to showing off a problem-free tongue piercing. Next, we will discover the basic care you should apply to your tongue piercing to avoid problems or setbacks that slow down the healing and healing period. Here’s how to care for a tongue piercing:

• Before touching the piercing area: the most important thing is that you wash your hands well and eliminate all kinds of germs or bacteria before touching your tongue. Otherwise, the tongue piercing hurts more, it can become infected or it can heal poorly.
• Clean the piercing area daily: it is essential that you perform this cleaning several times a day (preferably after meals). If you wish, you can make a homemade saline solution using sea salt diluted in water and clean the area with it at least 2 times a day.
• Brush your teeth: It may sound obvious, but if you want to learn how to take care of a tongue piercing, you should know that the ideas would be to brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush after each meal and a minimum of 3 times a day. In this way, you will prevent the germs that your teeth harbor from being transferred to the tongue. Of course also you should apply an alcohol-free mouthwash to avoid irritation and hypersensitivity in the area.
• Using an antiseptic mouth spray: the use of this type of product can guarantee 100% disinfection of said area.
• No Smoking: The use of tobacco is totally prohibited if you want the healing process of your tongue to come to fruition. In this article on Tricks to quit smoking without anxiety you will discover a long list of guidelines that can be useful when it comes to staying away from tobacco.
• Do not consume alcohol: As with tobacco, alcohol consumption is totally counterproductive when your tongue is still in the healing period.
• Avoid spicy and acidic foodsIn addition, it is also recommended that you eliminate foods prepared with ingredients that can alter the pH of the tongue. The same happens with those that, due to their texture or hardness, require an additional effort when chewing. If you want to learn how to take care of a tongue piercing, you should know that it is best to eat soft during the first days.

The location of the tongue in a humid environment and in continuous contact with external agents such as food, makes this area a breeding ground for bacteria and germs that can cause infections. If you think that you have not been careful enough when cleaning the area and you begin to feel that the piercing in the tongue hurts, it is important that you take into account the following points:

• Appearance of pus in the area of ​​the piercing: it is a clear symptom of infection. If you notice that a whitish, greenish or yellowish liquid oozes from any area of ​​the tongue, there is no doubt that it is an infection.
• Swelling and prolonged pain: the tongue takes a period of time to heal that ranges from 6 to 8 weeks at most. Any discomfort that goes beyond that time indicates a possible infection problem. In the following oneHOWTO article, we help you reduce the inflammation caused by a tongue piercing.
• Irritation on the tongueIf you feel that the area is irritated and this causes difficulty in swallowing, as well as a sharp pain that becomes unbearable, there is no doubt that your tongue piercing is infected.
• Hemorrhage: If there is a hemorrhage that causes constant bleeding on the tongue, it means that there is an infection.
• Color change of the tongueThe last symptom of a tongue infection is this, because if the usual tone of your tongue changes to a yellowish, green, or even black or purple color, it means that your tongue piercing is infected.

In the following oneHOWTO article, we explain how to cure an infected tongue piercing. However, the most effective solution to the appearance of these symptoms will be to go to the family doctor immediately. If your tongue piercing hurts a lot, oozes a strange liquid or is annoying, do not hesitate to go to a professional. Remember that if you want to get a tongue piercing, you must always put yourself in the hands of a specialized and qualified professional according to current regulations.

This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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