Believe it or not, earrings aren’t the only kind of body jewelry out there. Welcome to Tongue Piercing: 101! Consider this your complete guide to getting a tongue piercing. Today we’ll be going over the different types of tongue piercings, tongue piercing aftercare, the tongue piercing healing process, and everything else you need to know about this unique body piercing. With so many options to choose from, which type will be your favorite?
Before we get started, it’s important to mention that tongue piercing pain tolerance will vary depending on each person, and that different types of oral piercings have different healing times. It’s also important to keep up with oral hygiene to avoid the risk of infection. Practice quality oral care so that your piercing can heal quickly. Talk to your piercing professional before deciding which piercing is best for you.
Types of Tongue Piercings
Lip Frenulum Piercing (Frowny Piercing)
Lip Frenulum Piercing Location:
A piercing through the thin layer of skin that connects your lower lip to your mouth.
Lip Frenulum Piercing Process:
This piercing is typically performed with a hollow 16 or 18-gauge piercing needle.
Healing Time:
4-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Lip Frenulum Piercing (Smiley Piercing)
Lip Frenulum Piercing Location:
A piercing through the thin layer of skin that connects your upper lip to your mouth.
Lip Frenulum Piercing Process:
This piercing is typically performed with a hollow 16 or 18-gauge piercing needle.
Healing Time:
4-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Midline Tongue Piercing
Midline Tongue Piercing Location:
A midline tongue piercing is the most well-known tongue piercing, and it’s placed in the center of the tongue with a straight barbell.
Midline Tongue Piercing Process:
This standard tongue piercing is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing Time:
About 4-6 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Snake Eyes Tongue Piercing
Snake Eyes Piercing Location:
Pierces your tongue horizontally through the tip of the tongue. This horizontal tongue piercing is similar to a venom piercing, but a venom piercing is located more on the sides of the tongue.
Snake Eyes Piercing Process:
This piercing is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing Time:
About 6-9 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Tongue Frenulum Piercing
Tongue Frenulum Piercing Location:
This tongue web piercing runs through the webbing that connects your tongue to the floor of your mouth located underneath your tongue (also known as the frenulum linguae).
Tongue Frenulum Piercing Process:
This piercing is typically performed with a hollow 16 to 20-gauge piercing needle.
Healing Time:
About 8-10 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Uvula Piercing
Uvula Piercing Location:
A horizontal tongue piercing through the uvula.
Uvula Piercing Process:
This piercing is typically performed with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing Time:
About 4-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Venom Piercing
Venom Piercing Location:
The venom piercing consists of two holes on the sides of the tongue and is typically located between the middle of the tongue and the tip of the tongue. This horizontal piercing is also sometimes referred to as a side tongue piercing.
Venom Piercing Process:
This horizontal piercing is typically performed with a hollow 16-gauge piercing needle.
Healing Time:
About 4-8 weeks.
Recommended Jewelry:
Tongue Piercing Healing Times, Piercing Aftercare Tips, and More
How long does a tongue piercing take to heal?
It all depends on the type of piercing, but a standard midline tongue ring can heal in about eight weeks (this is not true for everyone). We recommend talking to a piercing professional about oral health basics, healing times, tongue piercing swelling, and cleaning routines before getting your piercing. It’s important that your piercing is properly cared for so that you can avoid any piercing risks. Practice quality oral care (brushing your teeth and cleaning your piercings) so that you can avoid the risk of infection and heal quickly. To clean your piercing, rinse your mouth with mouthwash or sea salt solution 4-6 times a day. A salt rinse should consist of about 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt dissolved into a glass of warm water. If you are experiencing signs of infection or you’re concerned about your oral piercing care, please contact your doctor. If you’re experiencing increased pain levels and swelling, we recommend contacting a professional and monitoring your piercing until it is completely healed.
How much do tongue piercings hurt?
Tongue piercing pain all depends on your pain tolerance. If experiencing pain while eating, try eating soft foods and avoiding the piercing site. We recommend talking to a piercing professional about pain management during the healing period. If your tongue piercing hurts after 2-3 weeks, contact your doctor and make sure you don’t have any signs of infection or other tongue piercing risks.
How much do tongue or mouth piercings cost?
It depends on where you live and which piercing shop you’ll be attending. There are different types of oral piercings, such as the snake eyes tongue piercing, which could cost more than standard tongue piercings (midline piercing), which pierces the tongue through the center of the tongue.
Do you have any tips on tongue piercing care?
We recommend speaking with professional piercers for guidelines on oral piercing care, but you can learn more about the dos and don’ts of piercing aftercare, how to clean your piercing during the healing period, and more piercing info on our blog. Brushing your teeth and keeping up with the proper aftercare until your tongue heals is important to avoid the risk of infection.
How do you pierce your tongue at home?
You don’t! It is so important to get your piercing done by a professional piercer to prevent any possible complications or infections during the healing process.
Why shouldn’t I get a tongue piercing?
If you’re questioning whether or not you should get a tongue piercing, mouth piercing, or lip piercing, we recommend talking to a professional and considering everything before committing. Not every piercing is for everyone, and that’s okay! Take your time deciding if you want a tongue piercing, and speak with a professional to make sure you’re making the best decision you can for your body.
Tongue Piercing Jewelry
How much does tongue piercing jewelry cost?
It depends on where you live and which piercing shop you’ll be attending. There are different types of tongue jewelry, such as a vibrating tongue piercing, that will cost more than just a standard barbell. We recommend calling a professional piercer to discuss pricing for each type of piercing and type of jewelry. Make sure to keep the original piece of jewelry in until your tongue is healed to avoid a piercing rejection. To check out different styles and types of jewelry, visit our site!
When can I change my tongue ring?
You shouldn’t change or remove the original piece of jewelry until your tongue is completely healed. If you change the jewelry before the tongue piercing heals, you can risk a tongue piercing infection or piercing rejection. The healing stage is very important and should be taken seriously. Be sure to always keep up with oral hygiene!
Can I get an allergic reaction? Why shouldn’t I get a tongue piercing?
Allergic reactions to certain jewelry materials are possible, resulting in rash, redness, or bumps, which means you will have to change the jewelry. Contact a piercing professional and make sure that getting a tongue ring is the right move for you. Be sure to discuss jewelry material options prior to getting your tongue pierced. Check with a doctor beforehand to learn more about your allergies and your overall oral health. Not totally sold on getting your tongue pierced? Check out our ear piercing guide and start there!
Learn More About Body Piercings and Body Jewelry
Did you enjoy our complete guide to getting tongue and mouth piercings? Check out the Inspo Spot for more information on body piercings. Be sure to read some of our favorite guides, including ear piercing guide, lip piercing guide, belly button piercing guide (aka navel piercings), nipple piercing guide, septum piercing guide, forward helix piercing guide, surface piercing guide, facial piercing guide, and more!
Now that we’ve gone over all of the tongue piercing names, locations, healing times, and tongue piercing costs, it’s time to go shopping! Spencer’s is the headquarters for all of your body jewelry needs.
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