With the right materials and precautions, getting a tongue piercing takes only a few minutes of courage, even if it will bring some havoc between you and your parents. It is imperative to comply with all hygiene and safety regulations. Don't be in a hurry and get all the right equipment, do the job properly and take care of the piercing. It's always best to hire a professional for these things, but if you really need to do it yourself, read on.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare for the Piercing
Step 1. Get all the tools you need
There are kits on the market that contain everything you need for a tongue piercing. Barbell jewelry (1, 6mm or 14 gauge) is usually recommended. Here's what you need to buy:
- 1 sterilized piercing needle or cannula of 1, 6 mm or 14 gauge diameter; it is a hollow needle.
- 1 new barbell type jewel in steel with a diameter of 1, 6 mm or 14 gauge.
- Surgical forceps.
- Sterile Nitrile Surgical Gloves.
- Never try to pierce your tongue with anything other than a sterile needle or cannula. Do not insert anything other than a new, sterile barbell piece into the piercing.
- Good quality kits are often cheaper than a job done in a professional studio, but that's not always the case. They are usually not worth the time and effort. If there is a reputable piercing studio near you where a good professional works, then know that it will not take more than 20 minutes.
Step 2. Open the package and sterilize the accessories with alcohol
Remember to clean everything you will use with denatured alcohol. The jewel, the pliers and above all the needle must be scrupulously cleaned and sanitized.
Even if you run the risk of being boring, it's critically important to remember Not never reuse needles and only use those specific for piercing.
Step 3. Clean your mouth carefully
Before doing the piercing, you need to brush your teeth carefully and rinse your mouth with a non-alcoholic but antibacterial mouthwash.
Step 4. Wash your hands
Use soap and water, then sterilize them with an antibacterial gel and wear sterile nitrile gloves.
Step 5. Know that it will hurt
While many people with a piercing claim that the tongue is one of the least painful points (even less painful than an accidental bite), it still involves piercing a part of your body with a needle. It is not really a walk in the park. So be prepared not to find yourself halfway through and stop.
Part 2 of 3: Perform the Piercing
Step 1. Locate the large veins under the tongue
You can see two main ones running through it; if you were to puncture them you would cause a serious and rather dangerous bleeding and you would have to go to the emergency room for a vascular suture. This is a possibility that puts your life at risk.
Check the underside of your tongue and consider marking a safe spot with a marker
Step 2. Place the surgical forceps at the point you want to puncture
Usually a central position and towards the bottom is preferred, rather far from the first taste buds and well spaced from the veins we mentioned earlier.
It is very important to check the puncture site several times to make sure you are not damaging the veins and causing bleeding. After the piercing, if bleeding continues profusely, go to the emergency room immediately
Step 3. Pierce your tongue
Push the needle firmly while keeping it straight. The pressure must be constant so that it passes the tongue from side to side. Do not remove the needle until you have inserted the bar.
- If you are using a full needle, usually the tongue is pierced from top to bottom.
- If you are using a cannula needle, it is better to pierce the tongue from the bottom.
Step 4. Insert the jewel
Before extracting the needle you must insert the bar of the jewel into the hole. Once this is done you can remove the needle.
Step 5. Attach the balls to the ends of the bar
They usually screw, so make sure they are tight and don't bother you.
Step 6. Clean your mouth
Remove any blood residue and rinse your mouth with a mouthwash. It will likely burn a little, so make sure the solution does not contain alcohol and is mild. You can ask for advice in the piercing studios.
Part 3 of 3: Caring for the Piercing
Step 1. Use ice and ibuprofen to manage swelling
The tongue usually swells after a piercing. For some people this is an almost imperceptible reaction, for others it is alarming. To control pain for the next few days (as well as swelling), you can take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen and suck on ice cubes to numb your tongue.
Many people who have had a tongue piercing find it a great relief to suck on an ice cube immediately after piercing. This controls the swelling in the bud and relieves the initial pain
Step 2. Leave the piercing in place
You don't have to take it off or clean it. The best thing to do is to leave it undisturbed. Focus on maintaining good oral hygiene and not teasing the jewelry. You may be tempted, but don't try to take it off to control the healing process, you just risk infecting it. Wait for the tongue to heal on its own.
Step 3. Wash your mouth twice a day with a mouthwash and twice a day with salt water
Use a gentle product and rinse your mouth regularly to avoid the risk of infection. Alternate the mouthwash with the saline solution.
Saliva has powerful antibacterial properties that cooperate in keeping your mouth clean, however you are never 100% sure. Pay attention to mouth hygiene and don't risk painful infections
Step 4. Try not to eat solid foods for the first 24-48 hours
If you limit yourself to juices and liquid foods in the first few days, you will keep pain under control and avoid exposing yourself to infections. Listen to your body, but it is always best to avoid chewing solid foods and waiting, so that you can become familiar with the jewel in your mouth before returning to a normal diet.
Step 5. Do not drink alcohol or smoke for at least two weeks
As the tongue begins to heal, do not drink or smoke as this could inflame the wound and prevent it from healing perfectly.
Step 6. Learn to speak normally even with the jewel in your mouth
An unexpected problem that arises for people who have a tongue piercing for the first time is to be able to speak normally without dragging the words, or the feeling of always having a candy in their mouth.
The best way to start speaking well again is to ignore the piercing. Do everything to avoid "holding" the bar as if it were candy. Leave her alone. You will instinctively try to hold it steady with your tongue but don't worry, it won't go anywhere
Step 7. When the wound heals, replace the jewelry with a smaller one
Complete healing takes about a month, but it depends on the person and how the piercing was done. When you start to feel comfortable, you can replace the jewelry, but always wait two weeks after the swelling subsides.
