- Posted by Jean Louise
Tongue piercing offers exciting rewards, such as self-esteem boost, popularity among peers, heightened sexual experience for some, but also poses some risks such as chipped teeth, receding gums and ugly infections, which of course can be avoided if proper care is taken. So here's a balanced report to help you decide if tongue piercing is for you.
Tongue piercing dates back to the time of the Mayans and Aztecs in Central and South America. This practice went beyond proving virility and courage, to being a part of their rituals, purportedly to draw the attention of their gods. Apparently, they also believed that through the pain and the shedding of blood, they can achieve a higher level of consciousness and better communicate with their gods. In present day India, tongue piercing is a sign for vow of silence. Tongue rings are also used by many American Indian tribes as decoration and as a form of worship.
Nowadays, in America and other modern parts of the world, people do it mostly for decorative purposes; some do it to be different and to stand out apart from the rest; to some, it is to show their adventurous nature. Whatever the reasons are, it is good to be well informed about this particular piercing because although the practice offers exciting rewards which includes a boost in self-esteem and popularity among peers, there are also risks involved such as chipped teeth and some severe infections that can be avoided if you are careful enough.
Well, if you have the guts to do it, here are some very helpful tips!
Have your tongue pierced by a professional and expert body piercer and choose the highest quality of steel barbell available. If you follow these tips for aftercare, your healing process will be faster and hassle-free. Remember that no matter how it appears to be healed from the outside, the process of healing inside is not yet complete before the six month period is over so make sure that you exercise proper care in handling your pierced tongue. It will take about a year for the piercing to be toughened, so resist the urge to play with the barbell with your tongue or finger until then. Also changing jewelry within that period can still possibly damage the tissues, so it is best to keep the barbell in place. Bear in mind that removing the jewelry before it is completely healed can close up the piercing rapidly, so it’s not advisable to remove the barbell even if there is infection. Keeping the barbell in place will even encourage healing and prevent further complications.
So now for the aftercare!
• Cleanse your mouth and brush your teeth thoroughly before the procedure
• Take Ibuprofen to minimize swelling and pain
• Suck in ice pop or ice to help control the swelling, but avoid ice cream
• Keep your diet soft for the first week of piercing
• Make sure to cleanse the mouth with diluted mouthwash at least ten times daily, especially after eating or drinking.
• Avoid touching the piercing as much as possible
• Avoid smoking and drinking anything with alcohol
• Open mouth kissing and any other such activity is a no-no within the six month period of healing.
• Never use creams, gels or ointments since they are difficult to remove
• To minimize swelling, keep your head well above your heart always. When sleeping, prop yourself up with as many pillows as possible.
• Avoid talking for the first few days
• Buy a new toothbrush and discard your old one
• Sterilize your utensils and don't share them with others
• Keep foreign objects out of your mouth
• Swish low concentration sea-salt around your mouth for a minute and then spit out. If you can’t find sea-salt in a store, make your own solution of one tablespoon salt and a glass of warm water
• In case of unusual appearance such as redness or inflammation, mucus oozing from the site, profuse bleeding, persistent pain and discomfort, consult your physician right away
•Never use Hydrogen Peroxide, Betadine, Epsom Salts, Table Salt, , Tea Tree Oil, Polysporin, Neosporin, Bacitracin, Bactroban, or Bactine
•Tighten your barbell every night before sleeping to ensure you don't swallow the metal; make sure to wash your hands before doing so
•Chew your food slowly, avoid pizza cheese as they can snap on barbell
•Be mindful of using your fork, to avoid hooking with the piercing
• Avoid hot foods, by temperature or spiciness; hot soup can make the jewelry too hot and you may burn yourself; spicy food can also damage unhealed tissues
•Low temperature soup and baby food and other soft diet is advisable for the first few days
If you are careful to follow these tips, there is very little chance of you encountering problems with your tongue piercing aside from the discomfort of a swollen tongue for the first few days; temporary restrictions in food and drink, and other oral activities such as speaking, singing, kissing, oral sex; difficulty brushing during the first few days and the initial pain. If you think the joy and fulfillment you get from tongue piercing far outweighs these discomforts, then go for it!
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