Laura Ljaze
Body Piercing

Tongue piercing is now widely accepted in Western culture having gained it's popular reputation throughout the late 90's and 2000's, however it's origins are actually found in ancient times.  The first recordings of tongue piercings are from the Aztecs and Mayans where depictions suggest that it was priests who first performed tongue piercings. The priests would pierce through their tongues and collect the blood or run rough cords and materials through the hole to inflict great pain; both of these rituals were thought to show honour and commitment to God. Although it wasn't until later when the idea of permanent tongue piercings as body modifications were introduced. Far from it's ritualistic religious beginnings, the tongue piercing is now viewed as a mainstream body modification and allows the wearer to create an individual look by customising their jewellery.

Will it hurt? Most people describe tongue piercings as a pretty tolerable. It is similar to the sensation of biting your tongue only a sharper pain with a shorter duration. The amount of pain felt with tongue piercings is quite low, however it is one of the few piercings that tend to be fairly sore afterwards during initial healing. You can relieve the soreness of a tongue piercing by eating and drinking cool, soft food and drink like ice cream and smoothies.  

Healing: Because of the nature of the tongue, it is relatively fast-healing which is good news for trying to heal your piercing nicely.  Tongue piercings should heal within approximately 4-8 weeks but can be longer depending on the individual.  During the initial healing of your tongue piercing it is really important to follow the oral aftercare instructions given to you by your piercer. Here are a few tips to help ensure your piercing heals smoothly

When caring for your Tongue piercing, ensure that you:

• Avoid eating spicy foods
• Avoid smoking
• Eat/Drink cool foods (like ice-cream and smoothies)
• Clean your piercing twice a day 
• Use a gentle mouthwash or saltwater soaks to maintain good dental hygiene
• Refrain from touching the piercing to allow the tender tissue to heal and to reduce the risk of inflammation and pain.
• Clean both exit holes of your piercing twice a day.
• The jewellery must be kept in at all times or you can risk the piercing closing over.

You can dramatically reduce your risk of any problems by following this advice.

Jewellery: Tongue piercings look best when worn with a barbell. The great thing about this piercing is that once it has healed you can customise it completely by changing the top (visible) ball and there are so many different options available. From pretty gems to novelty characters, there is a tongue bar for everyone.  When you are first pierced you will be pierced with Titanium Jewellery, this jewellery is a lot bigger than needed. This is to accommodate any swelling you may encounter post piercing, however rare it happens its always best to play it safe to ensure a stunning healthy healed piercing.  Your tongue bar will need changing to a smaller one (included in price).. All of Our Titanium Body Jewellery is made from Ti6-Al4-V ELI Medical Grade Titanium, the only grade conforming to ISO 5832-3:1996 and comes from UK suppliers direct, only the best available for our clients. 

DISCLAIMER: Each body is unique and healing times vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact your Piercer. These guidelines are based on a combination of vast professional experience, common sense, research and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered a substitute for medical advice from a doctor.