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.

]]> http://tonguepiercingonline.com/tongue-piercing-home/feed/ http://tonguepiercingonline.com/how-to-select-a-tongue-piercing-studio/ http://tonguepiercingonline.com/how-to-select-a-tongue-piercing-studio/#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:22:49 +0000 admin http://tonguepiercingonline.com/?p=113 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.

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

Self Expression – this is a fairly obvious reason, and is often the reason people get any kind of piercing. A tongue piercing has a lot to do with how people want to appear to others, how they want to portray themselves.

To be cool – Most people would say this is a horrible reason to get a piercing. Whether you agree with it or not, this still remains one of the most popular reasons people pierce their tongues. They do it to fit in to a certain group, or to be seen as some sort of a rebel, which is often considered cool among younger people.

Sexual Enhancement – many people find that certain sexual pleasure is increased because of a tongue piercing, specifically kissing and oral sex.

Fun to play with – this isn´t usually the reason people get a tongue piercing in the first place. However, people often won´t get rid of their tongue piercing because they have become accustomed to playing with the piercing, and enjoy having something in their mouth. It can be really useful to help pass the time.

Easy to hide/remove – a tongue piercing is, or can be, very discreet. If you don’t want someone to see it, you can easily keep it hidden, unless talking directly to someone. It can also be easily removed temporarily. This is useful if it needs to be removed for work a presentation, a trip to your grandparents house, etc.

More tongue piercing information:

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

Before:

• First and most importantly, pick a piercer who is experienced, skilled, and professional. How can you do this?
• Get a recommendation from someone who has already had their tongue pierced.
• Talk to the person who is going to pierce your tongue. Do you feel comfortable with them? Are they willing to take the time to help and inform you? Do they sound knowledgeable?
• Make sure the piercing parlor is clean and uses sterile equipment. Also ensure that they follow you country or states piercing regulations and standards.
• Be informed! That is likely what you are doing right now by reading this webpage. Keep it up! The more informed you are, the better!

After:
Here are some suggestions on proper tongue piercing care so that you don’t experience any after-piercing problems. These are very important, and you should already have a list from your piercer as well, describing everything you need to do. Make sure to follow it closely!

• Rinsing. One of the most important things, this should be done about 10 times per day, and right after eating or drinking anything beside water. You should rinse with a mouthwash, preferably alcohol free, that has been diluted to ¼ strength. This is important so as not to kill the “good” enzymes that help prevent infections. You can also rinse with warm salt water.
• Be careful while you eat! Having a tongue piercing will be quite different, and especially at the beginning, when you have a longer dumbbell, you need to take extra care not to accidentally bite it.
• Make sure to clean your piercing with a soft bristled toothbrush, to prevent plaque buildup. As with anytime you touch your piercing, make sure to clean your hands first, preferable with an antibacterial soap.
• Oral sex and kissing should not be performed for about 4 to 6 weeks after getting your tongue piecing.
• Keep foreign objects out of your mouth, to prevent harmful bacteria from entering.
• Do not play with your tongue piercing as this will aggravate it, and increase swelling of your tongue.
• Be sure to drink lots of cold water to decrease swelling of the tongue. You can also suck on ice chunks throughout the day to further minimize swelling.
• Wait at least 10 days before you change your piercing. If you try to change it too early, the hole will close.

More tongue piercing information:

Tongue Piercing Home Page
Tongue Piercing Risks
Tongue Piercing Benefits
Types of Oral Piercings
Tongue Piercing Infections
Tongue Piercing Horror Stories

Tongue piercings are popular for many different reasons. Whenever someone thinks of a tongue piercing they always wonder about the the supposed sex benefits. If you are reading this post, you are probably all wondering the same thing. Everyone always wants to know whether kissing and oral sex are enhanced when performed with a tongue ring. I would love to be able to give you a direct answer, but the truth is, there is no single answer.

Essentially, what it comes down to is personal preference. The most important thing to remember is not to get a tongue ring because you want to improve your sex life, or you hope people will want to jump into bed with you. If you do decide to get one, they are a lot of fun, and it is all about experimenting with your partner to find out what they like. That’s the best thing about a tongue piercing….it is a unique piece of jewlery that you can have a lot fun with!

More tongue piercing information:

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

A venom piercing is a type of oral piercing, where you have two piercings side by side at the front of your tongue. It is called venom piercing in reference to the placement of a snakes fangs. The piercing is generally closer to the tip of your tongue than a standard tongue piercing, which is why you can actually have both piercings done in your mouth.

What’s the appeal?
As with the majority of piercings, the appeal is that it is different and looks cool. It is a fairly simple tongue piercing (unlike a horizontal tongue piercing), very similar to a standard piercing. It is also a popular piercing because it can be combined with a standard tongue piercing.

What are the dangers?
The dangers are the same as you would experience with a vertical piercing. There is the chance of hitting a blood vessel or an important nerve. Of more risk is the chance of chipping or damaging your teeth. A venom piercing is pierced at the tip of the tongue, making it more likely that it will interfere with your teeth. For these reasons, proper care for you venom piercing is important.

What´s it like?
The procedure for venom piercings is very similar to that of a normal tongue piercing. The piercer will mark where they are going to piercing. They then stick a needle through one side of the tongue, and slide in the barbell. They then proceed with the next side (this can vary a bit from piercer to piercer. Sometimes they will stick both needles in, and then both barbells.

Once the piercing is in, in takes a little longer to heal, basically because you´ve put two holes in your tongue instead of just one. Once it heals though, most people don´t tend to have too much problems. It is a fun piercing to have and a good complement to a vertical piercing.

Similar to a vertical tongue piercing, some people are unable to get a venom piercing, based on the shape of their tongue, and location of their main veins. When you are researching different piercers, you can check with them to see if your tongue is suitable for a venom piercing

More tongue piercing information:

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

What’s the appeal?
A web piercing is a fun piercing because it is very easy to hide, more so than a vertical tongue piercing. It is underneath the tongue, so there is almost no need to consciously hide it. However, You can still play with it whenever you want, and without anyone noticing. It is also a unique oral piercing, as you can can pierce it with a ring or a barbell, which you are unable to do with other oral piercings. They also tend to heal quickly, and are generally less painful than other oral piercings.

What are the dangers?
The dangers of a web piercing are not as inherent as those of other oral piercings. The piercing is done through the frenulum, which means damage to tongue nerves or blood vessels are less of an issue. One of the main problems with web piercings is that the piercing is often rejected by the human body, meaning the piercing has to be removed, and the frenulum re-pierced.

Web piercings still pose a risk of infection, just like any oral piercing, which makes caring for the piercing very important. A web piercing can be a bit difficult to remove, and therefore people often don´t clean the piercing. This must be avoided, as plaque will build-up, so it must be cleaned regularly. The wearing down of enamel still happens with web piercings, but not as much as with other oral piercings, because of its location in the mouth.

Web piercings are a fairly simple piercing to do, and as a result, many people try to do it themselves. This is NOT a good idea. Piercings should always be done by a professional, as they have experience, are aware of the risks, andknow how to prevent them.

What’s it like?
People find the web piercing a great piercing to have. It is more “convenient” than other oral piercings, as it is not usually very painful, it heals quickly, and it can be easily hidden. It is seen as more of a personal piercing, because no one will know someone has one unless they show it. The option to pierce the frenulum with a ring or barbell also make it quite enjoyable.

More tongue piercing information:

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

How do you know if you have an infected tongue piercing? The following are some possible signs:

• Redness around the piercing, which is one of the first warnings signs of an infection.

• Swelling of the tongue.

• Any kind of pain.

• Red streaks, which often mean a fairly bad infection, so you should go to a doctor to have it checked.

• Green o yellowish liquid/pus originating around the piercing. This is another sign that means an infection has advanced significantly.

• Random bleeding. Even if it´s just a little, it could mean you have an infection.

If you notice any of these signs, you most likely have an infected tongue piercing and you need to begin treating it right away!! Here are a few suggestions of what you can do, which are very similar to the tongue piercing aftercare you had to do when you first got a piercing:

• Suck on ice cubes, or rinse your mouth with some ice cold water to help decrease the swelling.

• Rinse your mouth with a non-alcoholic mouthwash that has been diluted with water. Do this each time after you eat. You can also remove your tongue ring (if you’ve had it more than two weeks) and rinse while it is out of your mouth. Be sure your hands have been washed.

• Rinsing with warm water and sea salt is another option that will help decrease the inflammation and kill the bacteria.

• Remember not to drink alcohol, eat spicy foods, or smoke (which is one of the worst things you can do). Also, refrain from kissing and oral sex, or anything else that may introduce new bacteria into your mouth.

**The most important thing to remember**
If you have a tongue piercing infection that does not start improving after treatment, go see a doctor. They can check the infection to see how bad it is, and provide you with antibiotics if need be.

More tongue piercing information:

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

A vertical tongue piercing is more commonly known as a standard tongue piercing. A hole is piercing vertically through the center of the tongue, which is followed by the insertion of a tongue ring. It is by far the most popular oral piercing available, as it has been around the longest, is the easiest to perform, and is involves the least amount of risk.

What’s the appeal?
Vertical tongue piercings are appealing because they are the most common. The procedure is more basic than for other oral piercings, which makes them very easy to get, as they are performed in any piercing studio. The risks of a vertical piercing are less likely than for other oral piercings, and this makes them a great starter piercing for the mouth.

What are the dangers?
A full list of all the risk can be viewed at tongue piercing risks. The most common ones are tongue infections, speaking difficulties, and chipped or cracked teeth. As with all oral piercings, proper tongue piercing care is very important to avoid any problems.

What’s it like?
A vertical tongue piercing is a very fun piercing to get. People enjoy having something in their mouth to play with, and even though the piercing is not always obvious, a lot of people like how it looks. One of the great things about a vertical piercing is that it’s easy to hide, or to temporarily remove, so is very handy for people who need to remove it for work reasons.

The bottom line is that vertical piercings are the most common and a good introduction to oral piercings. People should always start with a vertical piercing first, and if they enjoy it, they can then consider some of the other oral piercing options.

More tongue piercing information:

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