Tongue piercing is one of the most popular types of piercing among today's youth. It is spectacular, exacerbates the sensations during kissing and oral sex, almost imperceptible. The procedure itself is not complicated and relatively painless, but a violation of technology can lead to catastrophic consequences. In the article we will talk about the types of tongue piercing, popular jewelry, care and possible consequences, give advice on choosing a master and consider the process of the procedure.
A bit of history
The culture of tongue piercing has been known since ancient times. The tribes of South America, Australia and Africa practiced piercings for ritual purposes to exorcise evil spirits and worship the gods. The most respected members of the Aztec tribes pierced the tongue with a thorn, collected blood and burned it as a sacrificial offering to the gods.
In modern culture, piercing has no sacred meaning, but is a tributefashion and desire to stand out from the crowd. The tongue piercing began to gain popularity in the early 1990s in the wake of punk rock and goth subculture, and later went to the masses thanks to famous actors and singers.
Pros and cons
Before you decide on such a modification of your body, you should weigh all the pros and cons of a tongue piercing. Let's start with the positives:
- looks sexy;
- helps you stand out from the crowd;
- increases the thrill of kissing and oral sex;
- quick and relatively painless procedure;
- healing period is shorter than other types of piercings;
- easy to hide;
- a small bonus for those who want to lose a couple of extra pounds: during healing, you will have to eat only liquid food.
Disadvantages of tongue piercing:
- you can catch an infection if the master neglects sterility;
- severe swelling of the tongue after the puncture and painful healing process;
- disorders during the healing period;
- there is a risk of damage to large vessels and nerves in the tongue, which can cause a violation of taste sensations and diction;
- loosely fastened parts of the jewelry can be swallowed or inhaled;
- prolonged wearing of metal jewelry in the tongue spoils the enamel of the teeth;
- probably excessive salivation.
Types of tongue piercings
What types of piercings are there?
- Vertical. The most common puncture. Holedo vertically, through a little to the right or to the left of the bridle. For this type of decoration "barbell" is suitable.
- Vertical double. Similar to the previous one, but two holes are made along the tongue or symmetrically. The second option is dangerous because there is a high risk of hitting large veins.
- Horizontal. The name speaks for itself: a puncture is made across the tongue. This piercing looks very impressive, but there is a risk of rejection of the jewelry. Due to the weight of the earring, the puncture channel can stretch and “push out” the earring over time. It is not recommended to make a horizontal puncture close to the edge of the tongue. Barbell or banana decorations will do.
- Puncture of the surface of the tongue. It has two varieties: upper and lower. The top one is more prone to rejection. Banana decoration is suitable for this look.
- Puncture of the tip of the tongue. Not a very common variety due to the high risk of damaging the teeth. You can do it anywhere around the perimeter of the tongue. Appropriate jewelry: ring and banana.
- Puncture of the frenulum. The most discreet of all types of tongue piercing. It is done on a bridle under the tongue. Due to the physiological characteristics of the structure, it is not suitable for everyone. Popular jewelry: ring, horseshoe, banana.
Contraindications
You can not pierce the tongue with the following diseases and physiological conditions:
- any type of piercing is prohibited for minors without the consent of their parents or guardians;
- oral infections;
- bleeding disorder;
- diabetes;
- epilepsy;
- neurological and mental illness;
- exacerbation of chronic ailments;
- pregnancy;
- febrile condition;
- allergic to antibiotics.
It is important to weigh the pros and cons of such manipulation.
How dangerous is a tongue piercing?
Despite the fact that a puncture in the mouth heals relatively quickly due to the disinfecting properties of saliva, there is a risk of infection if the technology of the procedure is not followed or sterility is neglected. Vascular damage and severe bleeding are possible, which can only be stopped by suturing. An inexperienced master can touch the nerves, which will lead to a loss of taste sensitivity and problems with diction. Negligent attitude to the sterility of the procedure increases the risk of infection with herpes, hepatitis and HIV.
Even with the right puncture, there is a risk of jewelry rejection. Metal earrings damage tooth enamel and contribute to the appearance of cracks and chips in 14-21% of cases. Increased risk of gum disease and loose teeth. It is also not uncommon for pieces of jewelry to be swallowed or inhaled, requiring surgery.
Choosing jewelry
Classic horizontal tongue piercing involves the use of two "rods" of different lengths. For the healing period of the puncture, you will need a long piece of jewelry made of surgical steel, titanium, gold, or other non-oxidizing material. The main thing is that the decoration is completely smooth, itshould not additionally irritate the wound, be long, put pressure on the swollen tongue. After healing, you can replace the jewelry with a shorter version. There is a wide variety of original wraps with enamel, rhinestones, drawings. To reduce the risk of damage to the enamel on your teeth, you can use jewelry made of plastic, acrylic or silicone. Rings, "horseshoes", "bananas" of various sizes are also suitable for piercing the tongue.
Preparation
If you decide to pierce your tongue, start by looking for a master. Check out the work of the masters and reviews. The chosen salon must have a license to provide such services, and the master must have a certificate of completion of piercing courses. Make sure that the specialist uses a sterile disposable instrument, and that all necessary disinfectants are available. The professional will inform you about all the possible risks of the procedure. In no case do not pierce the tongue at home or with a dubious master. An inexperienced piercer can damage a nerve or vessel, and to eliminate the consequences of an unsuccessful puncture, you will have to consult a doctor.
Eat your favorite food, because in the next 4-6 weeks you will have to follow a diet without s alty, spicy and sour foods. Alcohol will also be banned. Any ailment is a reason to postpone a visit to the master in order to avoid complications during or after the procedure. Thoroughly brush your teeth and tongue before your visit to the salon.
Procedure
Before the procedure, the master in detailwill talk about how the operation will take place, and about the care of the tongue piercing after the piercing. You will need to rinse your mouth with a disinfectant solution to reduce the risk of infection. Next, the master will put on sterile gloves for you and prepare the tools. The next step will be markup. The master will take into account the physiological features of the structure of the tongue, so that it is convenient for you to wear an earring. If you make a puncture too close to the tip, over time, due to the severity of the jewelry, it will stretch and the jewelry will fall out.
If the puncture is located closer to the root of the tongue, then the decoration may rub the palate. After marking, the master will fix the tongue with a clamp, make a puncture with a needle and a catheter. This is quick and relatively painless due to the fact that the tongue is made up of smooth parallel fibers and the needle is passed between them. If you have a low pain threshold, you can ask the master to do local anesthesia. Then insert a long earring with the expectation of swelling of a fresh piercing.
After everything is over, and you become the proud owner of a tongue piercing, the master will once again remind you of the proper care for a fresh piercing, tell you how to handle a tongue piercing and give a reminder.
Care
To increase in size and hurt after a puncture, the tongue begins in 1-2 hours. The farther from the edge of the puncture, the stronger the swelling will be. The first 4 hours you can not eat, and then you can eat only liquid or pureed food. Alcohol is prohibited. It is not recommended to use spicys alty and sour food because it will irritate the puncture. You need to rinse your mouth with chlorhexidine 3-5 times a day, and also after each meal.
Brush your teeth with caution or temporarily switch to mouthwash. The brush should be boiled in a soda solution before each use. Refrain from kissing and other contact.
How long does a tongue piercing heal? Subject to all recommendations, the swelling will subside in 3-10 days, but it will take 4-6 weeks for complete healing. After that, replace the decoration with a shorter one. You can do it yourself or contact the master from whom you did the piercing.
Complications
The main consequence of constantly wearing a tongue piercing, even if the procedure is performed correctly and healing is successful, is damage to the tooth enamel. You can protect your teeth by replacing the metal jewelry with plastic, acrylic or silicone.
Consequences of a non-professional tongue piercing:
- violations of diction;
- loss of taste sensitivity;
- nerve damage;
- heavy bleeding due to damage to large vessels;
- infection of the wound;
- blood poisoning.
Disregarding the recommendations for caring for a fresh puncture also has consequences in the form of wound infection, soreness and swelling. The temperature may rise. Bad breath, a strange color of the tongue - a reason to run to the doctor.
Reviews
Judging by the reviews of the owners of such piercings,a puncture made in the salon by an experienced master does not cause complications and heals quickly. Most note swelling of the tongue and problems with diction. About 10% of people were forced to remove the earring due to inconvenience in their professional activities. Some were forced to refuse to wear jewelry due to the developed infection. However, it is worth noting that most reviews of tongue piercing are positive.
Tongue piercing is a relatively painless procedure, but can have serious consequences if the piercing is done by an inexperienced master. Such a piercing heals faster, but care recommendations should not be neglected. The decoration in the tongue looks sexy and exacerbates the sensations during the kiss. In addition to the classic barbell, you can insert a ring, “horseshoe” or “banana” into the tongue. To avoid damaging your teeth, it is recommended to wear silicone or acrylic jewelry.
