Tongue piercing has become a popular form of body decoration and a fashionable trend for all age groups.
The reasons why someone decides to invest in this work are highly variable. Some people choose to do it for spiritual or religious purposes, while others see it as a form of expression within their social group.
Many people report feeling more confident and self-assured after investing in professional tongue piercing services.
Most people experience discomfort when they have a piercing performed. The outcome depends on the individual’s pain receptors, overall tolerance, and other physical factors.
How Bad Do Tongue Piercings Hurt?
Tongue piercings hurt more than other body places because the organ provides multiple sensory inputs. It contains muscles, blood vessels, and nerve endings that can all be affected by the process. People who have pierced their ears and tongue say that it hurts worse to get their ears done.
The best way to describe a tongue piercing is that you’re getting a shot on your tongue. If you have ever had someone take blood from the crook of your elbow, the discomfort is remarkably similar.
Some people say that a tongue piercing hurts a lot, while others say it doesn’t bother them at all.
Since everyone reacts differently to pain, you need to review how previous encounters with discomfort have gone to know what to expect with this service.
Your piercing professional should take precautions to bypass the tongue’s veins during the procedure to limit your personal discomfort.
There is no not many agents or medicine given to people who want a tongue piercing during or after the procedure.
Swelling and discomfort are normal after it occurs. I’ve found the pain to be bearable as long as I avoided acidic foods during the first week of the healing process.
After that first week, the only discomfort I felt was when the piercing was tugged or pulled.
If you recently had your tongue pierced and it hurts like crazy, try sucking on some ice cubes. The coldness helps to relieve some of the swelling and pain.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Tongue Piercings?
Most physicians advise people not to have their tongues pierced because of the procedure’s potential complications.
Although every experience is different, some people have had an adverse reaction to this form of piercing.
The best way to avoid any problems is to be aware of the positive and negative effects that come after barbell placement.
Here are the common signs and symptoms that have been reported from others who have already had their tongue pierced.
- There is more cold sensitivity to the lower first molars.
- Trauma can happen to the person’s teeth from the jewelry, habitual chewing or biting, or a barbell stem length that is too long.
- Allergic reactions to the materials used in the piercing equipment or the jewelry are possible.
Dental infections are more common in people with a tongue piercing than in the general population because of how plaque accumulates in the mouth.
It isn’t as easy to brush your teeth, especially in those first days after having the procedure done. That means you can find yourself taking more frequent trips to the dentist.
Another issue involves irritation of the skin around the mouth. I know my saliva glands went on overdrive for the first few days after having my tongue pierced, and that caused my lips to dry out a lot. Thankfully, I caught it before the corners cracked.
How to Take Care of a New Tongue Piercing
The best way to manage pain after a tongue piercing is to take care of your jewelry and the treated area according to your provider’s instructions.
I found that taking the following steps really helped with my discomfort, although some of them were less pleasant treatment ideas than others.
- Switch to a cold liquid diet for the first few days after the piercing while limiting how much sugar you consume. Once everything starts feeling a little better, you can add some soft foods.
- Ice is your best friend. If the swelling is bothersome, apply cold packs or ice externally for up to 30 minutes about five times per day.
- You might receive chlorhexidine from your studio after getting your tongue pierced. If they didn’t give you instructions, you should use it as mouthwash give times per day for the first ten days.
- Say no to anything that contains caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol whenever you can.
- Chewing gum is not something you want in your mouth while it heals.
- Try to limit how much you talk over the first week to let your tongue maximize its healing potential.
- Look for signs of infection regularly, including redness, heat, and growing discomfort. If you see bleeding, tenderness, or pus, you should contact a dentist or a physician.
Where Is the Best Place to Get Your Tongue Pierced?
Although most people envision a tongue piercing with a midline placement because that’s the most common option, you have several choices to consider. Here’s an overview of what you can talk about with your studio if you’re interested in having this work done.
| Tongue Piercing Placement | What to Expect with This Tongue Piercing Placement |
| Midline Tongue | This piercing is placed in the center of the tongue with a straight barbell. It’s usually performed with a 14- or 16-gauge needle and needs between four to six weeks to heal completely. |
| Lip Frenulum | You’ll get the piercing through the thin skin layer that connects the upper lip to the mouth with this option. It uses a 16- or 18 gauge piercing needle and works better with horseshoe rings. Expect up to eight weeks to heal. |
| Snake Eyes | This piercing option goes horizontally through the front part of the tongue’s tip. It’s performed by a 14- or 16-gauge hollow needly and uses curved barbells. It can take up to nine weeks to heal. |
| Tongue Frenulum | With this piercing option, you’ll place the jewelry in the webbing that connects the tongue to the mouth’s floor underneath. Curved barbells work best after the studio uses a 16- to 20-gauge needle to create the results you want. Healing time is between eight to ten weeks for most people. |
| Venom | This tongue piercing choice uses two holes on the sides, usually located between the tip and the middle. Any barbell is usable for this option. It takes a 16-gauge needle to create the placement, which takes as little as four weeks to heal. |
| Uvula | You’ll receive a horizontal piercing through the small bit of tissue at the back of your mouth with this option. Captive bead rings work the best. It takes between four to eight weeks to heal, and this option has the highest risk of ingesting the jewelry. |
| Frowny | This option is the reverse of the lip frenulum piercing. It goes through the thin skin layer that connects your lower lip to the mouth. |
FAQ About Tongue Piercings
When you haven’t had a piercing before, deciding to get one for your tongue can generate some anxiety.
Outside of the potential discomfort, here are the questions that people tend to ask me when they see my barbell.
When Can You Change Your Tongue Ring?
You shouldn’t take the barbell out until after the piercing heals. Removing it before then could close everything up within a few minutes. It’s essential to take the initial stage of the healing process seriously.
How Long Does It Take to Heal?
My tongue piercing took a little over a month to heal. With my friends, the time varies based on several different issues, ranging from how much swelling happened to a better commitment to essential oral health.
The piercing you receive adds another time element to consider. A midline location can heal in half the time as one on the frenulum.
How Much Does It Cost to Pierce Your Tongue?
The cost depends on several factors, including where you live and what shop you use. Studios with excellent reputations for sterilization and clean work often charge more than others, and it’s an investment I’d recommend considering.
Your price also depends on the jewelry selected for the piercing. If you want a vibrating barbell, that costs more than a standard product.
Do I Need to Worry About My Tongue Piercing Hurting?
Tongue piercing pain is based on individual tolerance, placement choice, and the skill of the professional completing the work. After the initial needle penetration, the primary discomfort comes from contact with the barbell. Try eating liquid or soft foods to reduce irritation at the piercing site.
After speaking with a specialist, I discovered that the pain-related issues I was having with my tongue piercing had to do with an allergy. It turns out that my body doesn’t like nickel, which is why my ears were itching all the time.
Once I switched to the Ruifan 14G acrylic barbells made from acrylic, my discomfort stopped after a couple of days.
Although it is still firm, I like that it doesn’t feel as clunky against my teeth. Several color options are available, including a glow-in-the-dark product, which is tons of fun when the girls and I go out for a night of bowling or dancing at the club.
That’s for daily use. When I want to make a great first impression, I use the JewelryWeb 14K Gold Straight Barbell. The metal purity is guaranteed, and I’ve never had a reaction when wearing it.
Getting your tongue pierced can be lots of fun! Whatever your reasons are, I just encourage you to choose this option because you want it.
Peer pressure can be rough out there today, so don’t get something done because others say you should. Be you.