Tongue piercing - purpose of piercing, pain of the procedure

Piercing is a fairly common procedure. She no longer causes strong bewilderment and ugly thoughts among those around her. But people still have disputes and misconceptions when they hear about piercing of the nipples or genitals, as well as the tongue. Many people do tongue piercing these days. The reasons for this are varied. But before you make an important decision and come to a specialist to pierce your tongue, you need to determine whether this operation is necessary and whether it has contraindications.

The history of piercing

For the first time, residents of African tribes and Polynesia began to practice the procedure of piercing various parts of the body. The Maasai were the first to introduce various decorations into their ears and lips. At that time, it was believed that the larger the size of the jewelry in the body, the greater the “weight” a person had in the tribe.

Navel piercing first appeared in Egypt. Women loved this procedure very much. The presence of a hole in the navel area of the Egyptian woman indicated that she belonged to “high society.”

In Tsarist Russia, sailors preferred to pierce their earlobes and wear voluminous earrings. Such a “symbol” meant that the person crossed the equator or belonged to the Cossack family. Later, starting in the 80s, it became fashionable for rappers to pierce their earlobes.

Nose piercing first appeared in India. The presence of a septum piercing (a puncture of the nasal septum) in a woman indicated her marital status, that is, that the girl was married.

Nipple piercings were done by warriors of Ancient Rome. An earring in a man's nipple indicated his masculinity, courage and determination. Only the strongest and bravest warriors had the right to have nipple piercings. Those with nipple earrings regularly competed in strength and courage. In order not to damage the “decoration”, special fabric capes were worn over the earrings.

The ancient Aztecs and North American tribes first began piercing their tongues. They carried out the procedure consciously, since it was considered a magical rite that helped to reunite with the Gods. The protruding blood on the tongue was considered sacred; it served as a means of calming the Spirits.

These days, piercings have completely different purposes. By piercing various parts of the body, people want to show their individuality, attract attention or stand out. For some, piercing is a way to feel new emotions, to prove to themselves that they can overcome pain and, as it were, move to a “new level of development.”

Tongue piercing – what consequences can a fashionable hobby lead to?

Piercing various parts of the body is a fashionable hobby that has become popular among young people for quite some time. Many people choose the tongue as the place for the piercing, since here the earring can always be hidden from prying eyes, for example, while studying or working. But it should be understood that decorating an organ presupposes its inevitable injury. Without a careful and responsible approach to the healing period, an infection can get into the wound, and problems cannot be avoided. Today we’ll talk about how piercing is done, what unpleasant consequences can occur, and what to do if your tongue hurts badly after the piercing.

Tongue piercing procedure

Tongue piercing is a surgical procedure. Although it is short-lived, it can be very dangerous to health, and in certain cases, to life. The procedure is a sharp puncture of the soft mucous membrane of the tongue with the further introduction of a special earring or barbell.

Among the huge variety of “decorations”, the most common are vertical rods cast from medical titanium or steel. In appearance, the earring turns out to be double, that is, it can be seen both from above and, if you lift your tongue, from below.

Another popular type of piercing is the frenulum. This procedure for introducing a frenulum into the tongue is less painless; during the operation, the client releases less blood, and, accordingly, healing of the wound surface occurs much faster.

Other "decorations":

rings;
carnations;
staples.

What will happen to the gums

In people with tongue or lip piercings, a factor is constantly present in the mouth, leading to an increased accumulation of plaque and the dominance of bacteria - and this, in turn, provokes inflammatory processes in the mucous membranes and can cause stomatitis, gingivitis and periodontitis. It is also important to emphasize that the habit of “playing” with fashionable jewelry and moving it back and forth in the mouth can cause not only injuries to the teeth and their roots (especially in the lower jaw), but also severely rub the tissue, cause damage to the mucous membrane, lead to bleeding, the formation of ulcers, erosions and aphthae.

On a note ! According to research, wearing a piercing in the mouth is one of the factors that can lead to gum recession, exposure of tooth roots, as well as displacement, loosening and premature loss of the latter.

Purpose of piercing

People who decide to have their tongue pierced have different goals. It is widely believed that the presence of an earring in the soft tissue of the tongue improves sexual satisfaction in a partner. Young girls often decide to have their tongue pierced simply to become fashionable. Some people pierce a part of their body in order to show others that they belong to a certain subculture.

Tongue piercing helps people stand out “among the crowd,” to indicate that they are not like everyone else, and to prove their own uniqueness and individuality.

Showroom price

The cost depends on the status and pricing policy of the place where the piercing will be performed. It's better not to choose the cheapest offers. Having your tongue pierced in a decent piercing and tattoo salon will cost at least 2000-3000 thousand rubles. In a beauty clinic, the cost starts from 6,000 rubles.

Whether it is necessary to pierce the tongue, everyone decides individually. You shouldn’t chase fashion or try to prove something to those around you. This type of body modification is very controversial and specific. It won't suit everyone.

Before you pierce your tongue, you should consider all the pros and cons of this step.

Advantages and disadvantages

The presence of an earring in a person's tongue always attracts everyone's attention to him. The corresponding procedure can be treated both poorly and well. But almost always the presence of a puncture arouses interest among others.

Anyone who agrees to have their tongue pierced feels special, different from everyone else. In this way a person wants to show his individuality. And some people decide to get piercings in order to show their decisive character or, conversely, to overcome themselves.

Pros of a puncture

After the procedure, a person begins to consider himself liberated, courage and determination appear in his character. Anyone who decides to have their tongue pierced “challenges” a monotonous and boring life.
Tongue piercing is not as noticeable to others as, for example, eyebrow piercing. If necessary, the “decoration” can be removed, and no one will notice the presence of a puncture.
Improves sexual sensations for a partner. When kissing or performing oral sex, tongue piercing can add additional sexual arousal and add a sense of exoticism to sexual contact.
After surgery, a long recovery period is required. At this point, you need to follow a strict diet and give up a large list of foods. This restriction helps some people lose weight.
If all the basics of proper care are followed, the risk of complications is minimal.
The ability to remove the “decoration” at any time and ensure that the tongue piercing is healed. Thanks to active regeneration of soft tissues, the puncture heals very quickly.

Flaws

The procedure is very painful. If a person is very sensitive to pain, then it will be difficult for him to undergo such an operation.
The recovery period, which can “stretch” for several months, also brings a lot of inconvenience. The healing process of the wound surface provokes pain and physical discomfort. It can take from 3 to 6 months before all the unpleasant sensations end.
Piercing needs to be done only in a specialized clinic or salon, and always by an experienced and qualified master. Many people pierce various parts of the body at home. But in this option, the risk of developing dangerous complications increases sharply. Saving on your own health can cost much more than the cost of surgery in a trusted clinic.
There is a risk of infection. This often occurs due to the use of unsterile instruments during surgery. The development of infection is not the worst complication of piercing. Complications include hepatitis and herpes. The likelihood of developing complications dangerous to health increases significantly if the procedure is performed by inexperienced or unqualified professionals.
Tongue piercing almost always damages teeth. This occurs due to the fact that a person has a desire to “chew” or bite the earring. Teeth begin to deteriorate and break for another reason - while chewing food, an unintentional biting of a metal rod occurs.
If you have a tongue piercing, careful care of your teeth and gums is required. Many young girls and boys, in order to boast about the presence of “decoration” in their mouth, show it off to others who touch the barbell with their hands. All this causes an increase in the number of bacteria and pathogenic microorganisms in the oral cavity.
Development of gum disease.
The presence of a foreign body in the oral cavity often provokes the development of discomfort - redness of the mucous membrane, itching, the desire to scratch the tongue.

How to choose a professional piercer?

If you find it difficult to choose a specialist, you can call several of them in advance and ask leading questions. They will allow you to find the most qualified master. He will puncture without risking your health. Remember, the best specialist is the one who avoids all danger.

First, ask how much experience the person has. If no more than three years, then you can call further. Next come the most important questions: how the puncture is made and under what conditions the instruments are sterilized. The only correct answer in this case: after cleaning and disinfection, sterilization occurs only in an autoclave, and disposable needles are used to make a puncture. Be sure to ask if anesthesia is used for this procedure.

A true master will absolutely confidently answer “no.” Well, in the end you need to ask about the decoration and the possibility of replacing it. A specialist who knows his craft first uses a titanium rod 18-22 mm long. In a few months it will be possible to replace it with a shorter one. If the answers to all the questions satisfy you, you can consider that you have found your master.

The degree of pain of the procedure

Any operation is painful. And tongue piercing is no exception. The puncture procedure itself lasts a couple of seconds. The patient feels a sharp, but quite tolerable pain. The main painful sensations begin at the stage of healing of the wound surface. The lining of the tongue is highly sensitive, and since this organ of the body is constantly moving, the pain will be excruciating. The discomfort will continue until the wound heals.

It is possible to reduce the intensity of painful sensations. To do this, you must adhere to the following basics:

The operation should only be performed in a specialized clinic (salon) by a qualified specialist;
During the recovery period, constantly care for the wound;
stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages (at least for the recovery period);
try to talk less in the first days after surgery;
Avoid eating hot and spicy foods.

Puncture procedure

Tongue piercing is an operation. To avoid complications, it is recommended to carry it out in a specialized salon. Only a qualified doctor can perform the procedure properly. Only a master can determine the optimal place for a puncture, where the risk of injury to nerves and blood vessels will be minimal.

During the operation, sterile instruments and disposable rubber gloves must be used.

Sequencing:

The oral cavity is treated with an antiseptic. In most cases, patients ask for additional oral anesthesia. Lidocaine solution is used as an anesthetic.
A special clamp is used to fix the tongue.
A puncture is made on the tongue fixed with a clamp. The direction of the needle is from bottom to top.
A metal rod or a “decoration” chosen by the patient is inserted into the resulting hole.

Tongue piercing at home

It is not advisable to do piercing yourself.

To minimize the risk of complications, the following requirements must be met:

A well-lit place is selected for the operation. There must be a table in the room on which the necessary tools are laid out.
For the operation, only sterile instruments (clamp, needle, earring) are used.
The oral cavity must be treated with a disinfectant solution and, if necessary, irrigated with an anesthetic drug.
For the puncture site, select the part of the tongue located closer to the tip. There are no large blood vessels in this area of the organ.
The tongue is clamped with forceps.
A special needle pierces the soft tissue of the organ strictly perpendicular to the surface.
The bar is threaded. It is recommended to use a catheter to insert the “decoration”.

A catheter is a special device that helps you do piercing at home. Thanks to the catheter, the sensation when piercing the soft tissue of the tongue is less painful.

The catheter is a small needle equipped with a plastic tube. An earring or other “decoration” is inserted into the cavity of the tube. After the puncture, the earring goes into the hole along with the needle. Subsequently, the needle and catheter are removed, and the “decoration” remains in the inner part of the tongue.

What decorations can be used

The most popular options for tongue decorations include:

Classic barbells. This is a straight cylindrical rod with decoration on the tips.
Curved rods. Resembles the shape of a banana.
Labrets. These are rods on which there is a disk on one side and a round clamp on the other.
Rings and earrings. Typically used for insertion into the edges and tip of the tongue.

An important criterion is the material of the decoration. It is better to choose hypoallergenic metals such as gold and silver. A fairly universal and inexpensive solution is jewelry made of nickel-plated steel and brass. Another good alternative is a titanium barbell.

You should avoid tongue bars and earrings made of plastic and wood. Despite the very low price, they can contribute to the development of infectious complications and allergic reactions.

Recovery period

The most painful and unpleasant sensations occur during the recovery period. Until the wound surface heals, a person must observe strict restrictions.

On the first day after surgery, the surface of the tongue is very sore and swollen. These changes are normal, pain is the result of soft tissue trauma, and swelling is the cause of damage to lymph flows and blood vessels. The swelling may last for several days.

The wound heals within 2-3 weeks. Complete healing of the wound surface occurs 3-4 months after surgery.

During the first weeks after surgery, you should be careful about your diet. It is important to exclude all spicy, smoked, salty foods from the menu. Dishes should not be hot. It is optimal to eat liquid, fresh, warm food.

Caring for a pierced tongue

The basis of tongue piercing care is the treatment of soft tissues. Every day, twice a day, the wound needs to be treated with antiseptic solutions (Chlorhexidine, a solution of baking soda or potassium permanganate).

For the first 2 weeks after surgery, you need to rinse your mouth after eating. The first days, rinsing is carried out with antiseptic solutions (Chlorhexidine). In the future, you can rinse your mouth with decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, sage, calendula).

Barbell care

For 2 weeks after the tongue piercing, you need to clean the barbell daily with a toothbrush. After this time, it is necessary to regularly remove the “decoration”, thoroughly clean it of surface contaminants and disinfect it in a Chlorhexidine solution.

Care instructions

Immediately after the procedure, at least for one day, you should give up solid foods and spicy dishes, as well as seasonings with strong specific tastes. Special care during this period involves regular rinsing with the use of pharmaceutical antiseptics and medicinal herbs - before this it is better to consult a doctor. It is also worth changing your toothbrush and then rinsing it thoroughly after each brushing. During daily hygiene procedures, you should thoroughly rinse your mouth, including under the tongue, but this should be done carefully, trying not to strain the organ too much.

It is important to follow all recommendations after the procedure so as not to encounter complications.

If you recently got your tongue pierced, take care of it while it heals. There is nothing complicated about it, but there are a number of restrictions that should be adhered to. Try to eat warm foods, not too cold or hot, and minimize any risk of accidental injury to oral tissue. Taking good care of your health will help prevent a lot of serious problems.

According to the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Possible complications

If the operation was performed poorly, the tongue will be very sore after the piercing. Signs of an inflammatory process (redness, severe swelling, itching) will begin to develop on the surface of the soft tissues. Healing of the wound surface will occur slowly.

Complications after piercing:

heavy bleeding;
infection of the wound surface;
pain while eating, swallowing or communicating.

If negative consequences develop, an emergency visit to the doctor is necessary. Treatment of the inflammatory process consists of treating the wound surface with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory solutions. Your doctor may also prescribe antibacterial injections.

Contraindications

Piercing is quite popular these days. But tongue piercing is not available to everyone. Before you decide to have surgery and go to the specialist, you need to study the list of contraindications:

allergy to antibiotics;
pregnancy period (the risk of infection poses a serious threat to the expectant mother and baby);
allergy to metals;
diseases of the nervous system;
poor blood clotting;
oral diseases;
epilepsy;
some autoimmune diseases (diabetes mellitus, hemophilia).

Tongue piercing is a modern procedure that helps a person stand out among the “crowd.” But before you decide to have a puncture, you need to evaluate all the disadvantages, consequences and dangers of a difficult operation.

Sources used:

Harden, Blaine. Coming to Grips With the Enduring Appeal of Body Piercing, The New York Times
A. Stirn (2003): Body piercing: medical consequences and psychological motivations., The Lancet
Wikipedia material