Tongue piercing how long to heal

Cleaning: Use an antimicrobial or antibacterial mouth rinse, preferably alcohol-free, or a saline rinse. Swish for 30 seconds times daily, especially after meals and at bedtime. Wash hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching the jewelry or surrounding area.

Apply a saline soaked gauze times daily for minutes, rinsing carefully afterwards to remove any residue. While showering, use a small amount of mild soap to clean the jewelry and the piercing. Once a day for no more than 30 seconds is recommended.

Rinse thoroughly to remove any soap residue. Dry carefully with a clean disposable paper product. Reusable items can harbor bacteria. Woven cloth items could snag the jewelry and cause injury. Infection: Signs of infection may include: Yellow or green discharge — white or clear is normal. Thick, dark tissue that builds up around the piercing site. Increased redness, pain, swelling, bleeding, or any tearing.

Low grade, persistent fever. If you suspect an infection: Seek professional care. Keep quality jewelry or inert plastic in place to encourage drainage. Removing the jewelry will allow surface healing that could trap the infection and result in an abscess. Eating: Avoid: Alcohol. People's bodies are all different, so the healing process varies from person to person.

People with weak immune systems due to diabetes , cancer , HIV , and some medications may need longer to heal and can also be more vulnerable to infection. In general, a person can expect to experience the following stages as their tongue piercing heals:. Immediately after the piercing, the wound may feel very sore and irritated. A person might have trouble talking and adapting to the new sensation in the mouth. However, they should avoid touching the piercing or knocking the piercing with the teeth, as this can increase irritation.

At first, it may be necessary to put food directly on the teeth in order to chew. Some people also choose to consume smoothies or other liquid foods for the first few days, until they adjust to eating with the jewelry in place. In these early days, it is vital to rinse the mouth with a saline solution several times each day. Most piercers recommend using a quarter teaspoon of iodine-free salt mixed in 8 ounces of warm water.

Do not use stronger solutions or antibiotic creams unless a doctor recommends it. Follow all instructions the piercer gives. Also, use a new toothbrush after getting a new tongue piercing. This reduces the risk of accidentally introducing additional bacteria to the site. The swelling tends to increase for several days after the piercing, and it may last for a week or slightly longer.

The wound may also bleed or ooze. A small amount of bleeding is normal, but consistent bleeding may signal a problem. After a few days, the wound may also ooze a whitish or clear fluid.

When the swelling decreases, replace the jewelry with a shorter piece of jewelry. Leaving longer jewelry in place increases irritation and may damage the teeth. It is safest to have a piercer do this.

Before touching the piercing, always wash the hands thoroughly and only use sterile, new jewelry intended for the tongue. Piercings heal from the outside in, which means that the outermost tissue of the tongue heals first.

This means that while the piercing may look less irritated, it is actually still healing for a month or longer. By this stage in the healing process, it should have become less painful and will start to feel relatively normal. However, a person may still need time to adapt to the piercing. Tongues heal quickly, which means that the piercing may close if a person removes the jewelry, even for a short period of time.

An infected tongue piercing can delay the healing process and may result in you having to take out the piercing. Keep an eye out for some of these signs of an infected tongue piercing :. Make sure you keep on top of brushing your teeth and tongue, twice daily.

Carefully consider any jewelry you decide to jazz up your piercing with. Visit your dentist regularly while you have your tongue piercing. Tongue piercings can increase your risk of developing receding gums, cuts and tooth trauma. Tongue piercings heal relatively quickly compared to other piercings. They generally take around six to eight weeks to fully heal, but this can vary from person to person and can be reduced through excellent aftercare.