Tongue piercing 437751 225880782 2008-07-15T20:57:52Z Udaza 7481321 {{Infobox Piercing | name = Tongue piercing | nicknames = | image = Tongue ring.JPG | image_size = 300px | location = [[Tongue]] | jewelry = [[Barbell (piercing)|Straight barbell]] | healing time = 4 to 6 weeks }} {{unreferenced}}[[Special:Contributions/207.237.198.197|207.237.198.197]] ([[User talk:207.237.198.197|talk]]) 20:13, 15 July 2008 (UTC) A '''tongue piercing''' is a [[body piercing]] through the [[tongue]], usually directly through its center. ==Aftercare== [[Image:Tongue piercing.jpg|left|thumb|upright|A new, swollen tongue piercing]] The swelling will occur 3-7 days afterwards and can be extremely uncomfortable. Cold, [[slush (beverage)|slush]]-style drinks and chewing on ice will help to mitigate the swelling and soreness, as will [[ibuprofen]]. This swelling must be accounted for by using a longer piece of initial jewelry, which is later replaced by a shorter piece of jewelry to prevent the healed piercing from damaging the teeth and gums. A tongue piercing usually takes 4-6 weeks to fully heal. Aftercare for tongue piercings is more complicated than most other piercings, as the healing piercing will come into contact with anything that enters the mouth, including food and smoke. For these reasons, many certified piercers suggest as after care guidelines, not to smoke, and to rinse the mouth thoroughly with antiseptic mouthwash. The piercer should recommend either a non-alcoholic mouthwash or diluting a regular mouthwash, as the alcohol will irritate the piercing and slow healing. It is especially important not to play with the piercing during the healing period, because that will severely inhibit the proper healing of the hole. Because of the tongue's exceptional healing ability, piercings can close very fast. Even completely healed holes can close up in a matter of minutes, and larger-gauged holes can close in just a few days. The length of time for the hole to heal varies greatly from person to person - some people with larger-gauged holes (greater than 2ga) can still fit jewelry (albeit smaller) in their piercing after months or even years. ==Jewelry== [[Image:Tongueringpictures.PNG|thumb|right|300px|Straight barbells with plastic and metal beads]] Tongue piercings are most often pierced with straight [[barbell (piercing)|barbell]] style [[jewelry]]. Due to the amount of action and movement that the tongue is involved with (speech, eating, kissing, etc.), jewelry size and comfort is especially important. Barbells that are too thin are prone to [[piercing migration|migration]], causing discomfort and irritation. Tongue piercings can often be easily stretched to accommodate larger jewelry. The beads at the end of the barbell can be made of many decorative materials, including plastic, but the environment of the mouth can cause cracking and discoloration in the jewelry over time. "No-see-um beads", flat beads matching the color of the tongue, are sometimes worn to conceal this piercing, often in places of [[employment]]. An uncommon version of this piercing will be close to the tip of the tongue, and a [[captive bead ring]] may be worn in it. This placement and jewellery choice is uncommon because it is much more likely to cause discomfort and damage the teeth and gums. Another uncommon version of this piercing is the tongue piercings referred to as Venoms. This piercing is two tongue piercings placed side by side. ==Risks== There is a minor risk of heavy bleeding if a [[vein]] is hit; however, a qualified piercer should have no problem avoiding blood vessels. Some bleeding is normal, but a medical professional should be contacted if it cannot be controlled. [[Image:Piercingschaden-Frontzahn.jpg|thumb|left|Tooth damage as a result of the wearer "playing" with the barbell by rubbing it along his/her teeth]] The piercing has a tendency to heal a bit crooked as a result of the [[Frenulum linguae|frenulum]]'s placement in the exact center of the tongue. This is usually undetectable by anyone except the piercing's owner, but in some cases it can be quite pronounced. Tooth and gum damage are risks, but they can be minimized by proper placement, the use of properly-sized jewelry, and avoiding playing with the piercing. A bar that is very large-gauge or too long can greatly increase the risk of chipped teeth or gum erosion, and excessive impacts of the metal against the teeth can cause micro-fractures in the tooth enamel. A common misconception is that since the mouth is dirty (see [[staphylococcus]] and [[streptococcus]]), tongue and oral piercings are more prone to infection and will take longer than other piercings to heal. While it is true that the human mouth, and foods can contain numerous bacteria, [[saliva]] is highly effective at both protecting from infection and promoting healing. For this reason, oral piercings tend to actually heal faster (4-6 weeks) than many other piercings, which can take many months depending on location, as long as appropriate care to prevent infection is taken. Mouthwash is frequently used to diminish chances of infection. 12 Health Risks reported by the ADA 1. Severe bleeding or nerve damage: if the needle punctures a blood vessel during the piercing, severe and difficult-to-control bleeding could occur. 2. Infection: the mouth contains millions of bacteria, and bacterial infection is a common complication from tongue piercing. 3. Pain: healing time prolonged. 4. Swelling: the tongue could swell large enough to close off the airway. 5. Disease transmission: The National Institutes of Health (www.nih.gov) has identified piercing in general as a possible vector for blood borne hepatitis (hepatitis B, C, D and G) transmission. In addition, there is risk of other disease transmission such as HIV. 6. Choking hazard: tongue jewelry could come loose in the mouth creating a choking hazard. 7. Chipped or cracked teeth: tongue jewelry can chip or crack the teeth. 8. Enamel loss: tongue jewelry can increase the risk of damage to teeth enamel. 9. Recessed gums: The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) has reported that tongue piercing increases the risk for recessed gums. 10. Tooth loss: The JADA has reported that tongue piercing increases the risk for loose teeth and tooth loss. 11. Scar tissue formation: thick scarring could form at the piercing site. 12. Speech Interference: tongue jewelry can interfere with speech. ==History and culture== [[Image:Piercing.jpg|thumb|A tongue being double-pierced.]] {{unreferencedsection}}There is a history of [[ritual]] tongue piercing in both [[Aztec]] and [[Maya peoples|Maya]] cultures, with illustrations of priests piercing their tongue and then either drawing blood from it or passing rough cords, designed to inflict pain, through the hole. There is no evidence of permanent or long term tongue piercing in Aztec culture, however, despite the practice of many other permanent [[body modification]]s. Permanent or long term piercing of the tongue is part of the resurgence of body piercing in contemporary society. The ready availability of high quality, [[surgical steel]] barbell style jewellery is associated with the emergence of this piercing in the 1980s. As with many piercing innovations, the origin of this piercing is associated with [[Gauntlet (body piercing studio)|Gauntlet]], the first professional body piercing studio in the [[United States]], formerly located in [[Los Angeles, California]]. [[Elayne Angel]], the first person awarded the Master Piercer's certificate by [[Jim Ward (body piercer)|Jim Ward]], body piercing pioneer and founder of Gauntlet, is commonly associated with the promotion and popularity of this piercing. Also note that the tongue ring is not gender specific, it was not created specifically for just a man or just a woman. Popular names for tongue piercing include ''tongue ring'', a misnomer, as only rarely are rings worn in tongue piercings. ==Tongue frenulum piercing== {{main|Tongue frenulum piercing}} The tongue frenulum piercing is a piercing through the frenulum underneath the tongue, known as the [[frenulum linguae]]. ==References== {{Unreferenced|date=June 2007}} ==External links== *[http://100years.cda-adc.ca/jadc/vol-64/issue-11/botchway-f.pdf Tongue Piercing and Associated Tooth Fracture] *[http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EiD/vol8no8/01-0458.htm Haemophilus aphrophilus Endocarditis after Tongue Piercing] {{Body Piercing}} [[Category:Body piercing]] [[Category:Gustatory system]] [[Category:Oral pathology]] [[Category:Dental disorders]] [[Category:Dentistry]] [[Category:Dentistry stubs]] [[Category:Pain]] [[de:Zungenpiercing]] [[es:Piercing en la lengua]] [[he:כאב שיניים]] [[nl:Tongpiercing]]