It has now been about 30 hours since I got my tongue pierced... and for the record, it's not my first piercing. I have my brow, ears, nipple, and navel also pierced.
At A Glance Author Welshfyr Contact Welshfyr@bme.anon When It just happened Artist JD Studio Utility Body piercing & Supply Co. Location Halifax Nova Scotia, CANADA Getting my tongue pierced was a challenge from the start. My partner did NOT want me to get it done, and informed me of that numerous times. The biggest concern was that it would 'change' how I kiss, and 'informed' me that I didn't need any help in the oral sex dept. so THAT excuse/reason was not going to work for me. Well, I am writing this, so obviously I ended up getting it done! I used the reasoning that a tongue piercing would not even show 'unless' I wanted someone to see it. Infact, after we walked out of the piercing studio, my partner finally said to me "OK...let's see it.". I shot back "See what? We have been talking now for 5 min, and you 'still' don't know for sure if I even went through with it!" Then I opend my mouth to show it off :)
None of my piercings to date have hurt all that much when getting them done, but for some reason, I was worried about this one. Let me tell you now, there was NO reason to worry. The pain of getting it done was very little, and it looks so KEWL!!! Anyway... back to why I am writing this.
I am experiencing certain things, and 'new' things since getting this piercing done, and THAT is what I want to share with people.
First thing is that when you stick your tongue out to 'show it off' to your friends, 'lift' your tongue up nice and high so that the bottom ball does not get caught on your teeth as that can cause a bit of pain, and can tear so I am told.
Second thing is that ssss sound suddenly becomes a bit of a challenge. I have been talking as much as possible, but you have to 'think' about how you are forming words if you don't want to sound a lot different from whatever you sounded like before.
Third thing has GOT to be 'the first meal'. All I can say is "Eat slowly!". Again, I am re learning how to eat again. I am amazed at how much the tongue moves food around, and with the 'standard' tongue piercing, the longer rod can 'easily' get crunched between your molars when chewing food. OUCH, and what a way to have to go to the dentist with a cracked teeth!
Now I know that there are things we should not do with a new tongue piercing, but if you REALLY want to have that beer, or a cigarette, then get yourself a small travel sized bottle of whatever mouthwash has been suggested. It might be a pain to have to keep 'running' to the bathroom to rinse out your mouth, but avoiding infections seems like a better idea. Especially for those that get them easily. Think of how 'fresh' your breath will smell all the time!
The worst part for me so far has been having to keep ice in my mouth as the swelling while not major for me IS noticeable. I have been just keeping a glass of ice chips around all the time. I also put just a 'splash' of mouthwash (non alcoholic) over the ice, so that I feel I am keeping everything clean. The only thing with keeping a chunk of ice in your mouth over the ball is that it makes the ball so cold, that you don't know if it's the ice chip that is still there or not.
When it comes time to clean it in the bathroom, what seems to be working for me is cleaning my teeth tongue as normal with a toothbrush, but that does not seem to work for the underside of the tongue around the frenulum (that stringy thing that attaches the bottom of your tongue to the bottom of your mouth). For that area around the piercing, what seems to be working for me is dipping a Q-tip into mouthwash, and cleaning around the ball of the piercing with that. Yeah, there is a bit of exudate (the medical term for drainage), but with the Q-tip, I can almost 'drag' out the stuff coming out, and it hurts a heck of a lot less than going at it with my electric toothbrush.
So those are basically the things that I have been doing to keep my new tongue ring from going bad on me.
Now onto the things I 'should not' do, but have already. Although I don't suggest deep kissing i.e. using tongue on tongue etc, my other half has informed me that it's not all that different, mind you, I DID notice that the tongue coming INTO my mouth seemed REALLY 'interested' in the new addition in my mouth. By the way, the ONLY reason I have done the deep kissing or oral sex thing already is because I KNOW the heath status of the person I am with, and was very gentle with it. If I didn't know their health status, or was even a bit worried, I would not do any of it. I suggest... neither do you!
I hope that some of these personal tips help out with someone that is considering getting a tongue piercing. I know that I have only had it for 30 hours, but so far so good!
Oh! If you want to get it done, and are worried about the swelling or speech changes, then do it when you can take a few days off from work or wherever. After 30 hours, my speech is almost back to normal, and the only thing now is the eating thing which is going to take some time. OH! On the food thing? Gooey cheese is a problem so far, but I'm sure it will get better with time.
Happy piercing everyone, and trust your piercer BEFORE you get it done. It's addictive, and if you trust the person, then each time becomes easier!