Tongue Piercing

What is it?
One of the different types of oral piercings available is a horizontal tongue piercing, which is so named because a barbell is slipped horizontally through the front part of the tongue. It is a very rare piercing, and also a difficult piercing to perform. For this reason, most piercers have never performed it, and often refuse to do it.

What’s the appeal?
The real attraction of a horizontal tongue piercing is that it is really unique and very few people have it. It’s the kind of piercing that will have a lot of “wow” factor – every time you show it to someone, they will either think you are the coolest or the craziest person in the world. It will certainly bring you a lot of attention.

Dangers/Risks?
The risks involved with this piercing are the same as a regular tongue piercing.
However, some of these risks are more likely to happen, especially if the piercing is not properly cared for. After the piercing, many people find it very difficult to speak because the tongue can swell up a lot, more so than a regular piercing. It is also very common that people are unable to speak without a lisp, or can have problems making certain sounds, even after the piercing is fully healed. Because of the location of the piercing, chipped and damaged teeth are even more common than with vertical piercings.

What´s it like?
One of the reasons it’s not very common is it’s a difficult piercing to have. The actual piercing hurts a lot - most people say it is way more painful than a normal tongue piercing. The tongue often swells up a great deal, and it can take a number of months before the swelling is gone completely. Some people have even found that their tongue never completely healed, and for that reason removed the piercing.

With this piercing, it is especially important to find a good, experienced piercer. The piercing has to be done correctly, or else implications such as problems healing are much more common. Furthermore, using the correct jewelry is very important. The most recommended jewelry is PTFE bars, because they have some flexibility. This will make it much easier to talk properly, and help to prevent chipped teeth.

Once you have the piercing, the aftercare is the same as you would do for a vertical piercing. Swelling should be almost gone after two weeks, with another 2 months or so before the tongue is completely healed.

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

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