The Ins and Outs of Tongue Piercing

A tongue piercing is just what it sounds like: a piercing through the tongue. A popular name for this type of piercing is called a "tongue ring," although it is not common to have a tongue piercing that actually involves a ring. Straight barbell style jewelry is the most common type of body jewelry used in tongue piercing.

Getting your tongue pierced can be a very quick and easy process. You should make sure, however, that the studio and piercer you have chosen are licensed and certified, that the location is clean and professional, and that the instruments are clean and sterile.

Once you have the tongue piercing, follow the aftercare guidelines to make sure that your piercing heals properly. If you experience swelling, you can alleviate that by taking Ibuprofen, drinking cold beverages or sucking on ice chips. You want to prevent playing with the piercing in the beginning, as this could inhibit the hole from healing correctly. The healing time can be about 4 to 6 weeks. Since your piercing can be exposed to everything that enters your mouth like food and smoke, follow your piercer’s instructions if they advise you to refrain from things like smoking or specific types of foods. Also, make sure you rinse your tongue piercing with antiseptic mouthwash, or according to their directions.

There are different types of tongue piercing jewelry that you can get once you have healed. Even though the barbell style is the most popular, you can find many different kinds of barbells. While you should make sure that the metal post is made of a safe, hypoallergenic material, you can adorn that post with thousands of styles of beads. There are colored metal, colored plastics, and rings that you can use to enhance your tongue piercing. You can even find beads that support your favorite professional or collegiate sports teams, as well as cartoon characters and logos.

Stingray Body Art maintains a professional and hygienic standard of excellence when it comes to their tattoos and piercings. Browse through their site to see their level of reliability when it comes to professional body art, then call 617-254-0666 to make an appointment.