Tongue Piercing

Tongue Piercing has been around forever…or at least for such a long time that it feels like forever. The oldest recorded rituals of tongue piercing go back to the times of the Aztecs and the Mayans, where people would pierce their tongues as a way to draw blood as an offering to their gods. This may sound strange and neurotic, but blood offerings were common in those cultures.

Fast forward hundreds of years, and it is more popular than ever, although no longer for any type of offering. It has become an important part of fashion, especially among teenagers and people who like to wear a lot of piercings. Not only used as a means to express one’s style, people also pierce their tongue for “sexual enhancements.”

One of the most controversial piercings, there are many risks that can arise during and after the piercing. Some of the worst include brain abscesses, scar tissue, damaged nerves and the spread of deadly diseases. These have resulted in plenty of horror stories about tongue piercings that went wrong, and all of this has resulted in a lot of negative press. It is especially frowned upon by dentists, who have seen many clients coming in with chipped teeth and damaged gums. Accordingly, parents have come to dislike this piercing as well. They are exposed only to the headlines about piercings, which are generally quite negative.

In spite of all the controversy, and partly because of it, tongue piercings remain wildly popular, and have been for about the last 20 years. In contrast to the possible dangers, there are a number of reasons people decide to pierce their tongues. Not only is it done for style, people who have tongue piercings claim kissing and oral sex are significantly enhanced.

A pierced tongue may not have as many variations as certain other body piercings. The most common is a barbell that is pierced through a single hole in the center of the tongue. It is also possible to double pierce, venom pierce or multi-pierce one’s tongue, although this is quite rare. The actual piercing is always some type of barbell, with different variations in length, and is pierced through the tongue at a slight angle. There are different materials used to make these barbells, and the top end of the barbell can be changed easily, providing some sort of variety for tongue piercings.

No matter how you feel about tongue piercings, you can´t deny their prevalence in pop culture, and this is unlikely to change any time soon. Tongue Piercing Online was created to provide a site where each and every person can find everything they need to know about tongue piercings, without surfing through dozens of sites. We hope you find the information useful, and would welcome and questions or suggestions.

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How to Select a Tongue Piercing Studio

If you are going to get your tongue pierced, it is extremely important that you select a good piercer. Why? First and most obvious, a good piercer will go a good job. They have experience to do the job right, will make sure everything is done cleanly, and they will follow proper guidelines. Moreover, if something does go wrong, you know you are in good hands, and the piercer will know how to deal with the situation. Lastly, a good piercer will make sure you know the proper way to care for your new piercing.

Selecting a good tongue piercer is not difficult to do, but does take some work. The first thing you should do is try to get a recommendation. Do you have any friends with a tongue piercing? If so, find out where they got it done and if they liked the piercer. The next thing you should do is go and visit the piercing studio, and speak with the person who was recommended to you. It is very important that you feel comfortable with this person and with the piercing studio, which should be clean and organized. Make sure they follow the piercing regulations of your country. (They should have a certificate proving this). Get the piercer to look at your tongue, so he can let you know if you can get your tongue pierced or not. This is not usually a problem; however, there are some people who cannot get a tongue piercing because of the location of their veins.

If you can´t get any recommendations, then it is suggested that you find a few piercing studios near you and visit two or three different ones. Meet the piercers, check out the studios, and pick the one you feel most comfortable in, and the one that is the most professional.

Once you have selected the piercing studio and the person who will pierce your tongue, make a date for your piercing, and find out about anything you need to do (or not do) before getting your tongue pierced. By following these guidelines, you are more likely to have a good tongue piercing experience and will get more enjoyment from the whole process.

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Tongue Piercing Risks

There are some risks involved in getting a tongue piercing. You should be aware of these risks before getting your tongue pierced, so you can take measures to prevent them from happening!

Excess bleeding – Surely you are all smart enough to know that when you get your tongue pierced, there will be blood! That is basic physiology. However, when the tongue is pierced, a blood vessel can be perforated. This causes a lot of bleeding, and usually you will have to go to the hospital to have it closed surgically.

Loss of feeling – there are some rare cases where a tongue piercing has resulted in loss of feeling, because of a damaged nerve. This is not a myth, although it is very rare.

Scar Tissue – some people who get a tongue piercing end up getting scar tissue on the tongue. This will result in a bump on the tongue around the piercing. In some cases, it can get quite large, and if you have ever heard of a “second tongue” because of a tongue piercing, this is what they are referring to.

Damage to mouth and teeth – most dentists do not like tongue piercings AT ALL! Why? Quite often, a they can cause chipped or cracked teeth, or lead to the loss of a tooth. It can also cause damage to the gums, and cause the gums to recede.

Swelling – your tongue will most definitely swell after getting a tongue piercing, but the amount of swelling will vary from person to person. Many people are unable to talk for a few days after they pierce their tongue.

Speech difficulty – a tongue piercing can make it difficult to talk properly. Most people adapt to the change, and can eventually talk normally again. There are some people who lisp because of the tongue piercing, but this is most common with large a tongue piercing, or a double piercing.

Spread of diseases – a tongue piercing can lead to the spread of diseases. This is most common if the tongue piercing is not done by a professional, or if the piercing is not properly cared for.

More tongue piercing information:

Tongue Piercing Home Page
Caring for your Tongue Piercing
Tongue Piercing Benefits
Types of Oral Piercings
Tongue Piercing Infections
Tongue Piercing Horror Stories

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