As good as a tongue piercing looks, let’s face it, the tongue is an extremely sensitive body part, making it prone to extra pain and discomfort. So, when it comes to tongue piercing aftercare, you need to be extra careful compared to other piercings.
Here is everything you need to know about tongue piercing aftercare.
How Long Does It Take To Heal?
A tongue piercing takes between 6 to 8 weeks to completely heal. However, the healing process generally differs from individual to individual.
Dos And Don’ts during the Healing Process
When it comes to tongue piercing aftercare, you need to be really careful during the healing process. Here are some guidelines that you need to follow.
Dos
Here are a few things you need to do to ensure the healing of your tongue piercing.
- Brush your teeth daily
- Floss regularly
- Use a soft-bristle toothbrush
- Use an alcohol-free mouthwash
- Look for signs of infection
Don’ts
Here are a few things you cannot to do during the healing process of your tongue piercing.
- Tongue scrapers are off-limits
- Don’t touch or play with your piercing jewelry
- Don’t French kiss or have oral sex
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol
Tongue Piercing Aftercare
For The First Week
During the first couple of days, you will have to avoid consuming certain foods as they can get stuck in your jewelry. It is recommended that you consume soft and bland foods. Remember that during this time you are to avoid French kisses and oral sex at all costs. The best way to counteract pain and swelling is to do a quick salt rinse several times a day as it helps speed up the healing process.
After the first five days, you can expect the pain and swelling to subside, making it easier for you to consume foods, but it’s better to stick to soft foods. During this phase, you need to continue with your salt rinses while avoiding physical contact.
After a Week
Your pain and swelling should subside completely by this point. So, you can eat whatever you like, but in case you experience any discomfort, you might want to stick to soft foods. However, make sure to avoid any hot beverages as they can cause swelling. Also, continue rinsing your mouth with saline water at least after you eat or drink.
After 10 Days
After day 10, your piercing will look appear as if it has healed. However, appearances can be deceiving as it can take at least a few more weeks for your piercing to heal completely. Even though you can eat everything at this point, you should still be a little cautious with spices as they can irritate your piercing. Also, it is more than enough for you to salt rinse only twice a day; before and after you brush your teeth.
After 40 days
This is the final stretch of your tongue piercing healing process. Make sure that you brush and floss regularly while continuing your salt rinses. Any pain or swelling at this stage is actually pretty alarming even though you might find some foods to still irritate your piercing. You should pay a visit to your piercing to make sure that your piercing has healed completely. However, don’t compromise on piercing precautions and aftercare at least until after the 8-week healing period.
Hopefully, this detailed tongue piercing aftercare process will help ensure the healthy and comfortable healing of this unique piercing!
