Piercing guide › Tongue and frenulum › Tongue
The classic tongue piercing goes vertically through the centre of the tongue, a little behind the tip.
Beforehand I check the underside of the tongue, so that the channel doesn't go through a larger blood vessel or lie too close to the tongue frenulum. Then I mark and pierce with a needle.
As initial jewellery I use a long straight bar made of Bioplast or titanium to ASTM F136. The tongue swells a lot in the first few days. When the swelling goes down, I shorten the bar.
Dentists report chipped teeth and receding gums with tongue piercings. A properly shortened bar and plastic balls instead of metal are considered gentler.
If the tongue frenulum is very short or a large blood vessel lies exactly at the spot, I don't pierce.
Tissue in the mouth heals quickly because it has a good blood supply. In return it swells noticeably in the first few days. Rinse after eating with clear water or an alcohol-free mouthwash. Smoking and alcohol slow down healing.
How to care for the piercing in each phase is explained in detail on the Care and aftercare page. The short version for the mouth: rinse after eating, don't play with the jewellery, have the initial bar shortened in time.
When to get help immediately
Pain and healing time are guide values, averaged from information given by piercing and tattoo studios. Where the figures come from. Everyone feels and heals differently.
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