I decided that I wanted my tongue pierced when I was sixteen years old. I had to save my babysitting money for a whole month, but I finally made an appointment and went in with my boyfriend to get it done. My Tongue piercing was only my second piercing, so I was very nervous. I only had my navel pierced at the time, and I had heard that tongue piercings were a lot more painful than navel piercings. I prepared myself for the worst, thinking that it would be awful. I had one friend who had hers done previous to myself. Her tongue had swollen so big it didn't all fit in her mouth, and she couldn't eat solid food for almost a week. Still, I decided I wanted it done. I found my happy place and waited to be poked with the huge-looking 14g needle.
At A Glance Author MeR Contact tortured_butterfly@hotmail.com IAM MeR When Two years ago Artist Mark Studio After Dark Location Fredericton To my surprise, it was a quick and almost painless procedure. I rinsed my mouth out with Original Listerine (and I must stress that it was Original, the fresh mint tends to aggravate my tongue at times). He then marked the spot on my tongue. I hardly knew the difference between the clamp and the needle! The amount of pain was very little. It was about the same as my navel, if not less. The jewellery bothered me a bit when it went in. I realize now it was probably because of the treads on the barbell. That was the worse part of the whole procedure.
Before I left I rinsed my mouth out with Listerine again. My tongue was bleeding a bit and I was drooling, so I took some paper towels with me. I went home with instructions to drink lots of bottled water and not to eat any spicy foods for 2-3 week, to rinse my mouth after everything ate, except bottled water, also to take some sort of anti-inflammatory pills for the swelling, and I could drink hard liquor, but not beer (I was also warned not to perform oral sex for 2 months unless with a trusted partner, and even then, to wait at least 2 weeks). I stuck to the after care and was surprised that I was able to eat regularly the next day; there was a little soreness but much at all. It was not even close to what I have imagined! I was very pleased.
I had a bit of a lisp, but I usually have one anyways, the swelling just made it a little bit worse. The swelling only lasted for about three days, and then it started to go down. I took the highest recommended daily dose of Ibuprofen for one week.
After two weeks there was no soreness and I began to play with it. This was a bad idea. Playing with it aggravated it and made it sore again! I learned to forget that it was there and to just leave it alone. After a month or so I had to change the barbell because it was way too long. It was longer than a regular barbell to accommodate the swelling my tongue went through. I was pierced with 1-1/4" and I now wear either 7/8" or 1", occasionally 5/8" but I find those slightly uncomfortable.
After I changed the barbell I realized it was a lot easier to eat and talk. I wasn't biting it as often. I decided to put acrylic balls on my barbell so that I would chip a tooth (advice from my dentist).
Now I play with tongue ring all the time. I have had it pierced for over 2 years now, and have only had one infection. Eating extremely spicy food and not rinsing my mouth afterwards was what caused it. I quickly cleared it up by rinsing with Listerine 2-3 times a day for a week or so. In total from the time I noticed it, it was less than two weeks before it was no longer sore.
One thing I have to warn everyone about, is that that bubble gum gets stuck to acrylic balls. I have ruined 2 barbells from chewing bubble gum and not being careful. If you are really careful, you might not get the gum stuck on your barbell, but I still advise people to chew non-stick gum (the kind for people who wear dentures).
I love my tongue piercing, and plan on getting a second one very soon. It is fun to play with and keeps my occupied when I am bored. I have taken it out before for 10 or 15 minutes, and I can't imagine leaving it out forever! I don't know what I would do without it. I feel that my tongue piercing is one of the most fun piercings I have. People don't know I have it done unless I want them to know.