Q&A for How to Take Care of Your Tongue Piercing

An alcohol-based mouthwash can irritate your piercing and make it more painful.

Yes, you will be able to eat normally after a week. It can take up to three to ten days for the swelling to go down, just make sure you're cleaning it after every meal or drink if it isn't water.

Yes. During the healing and swelling it may leave a dent.

It won't swell right away, but it will most likely swell the day after. Swelling goes down in about a week or so, depending on your body's reaction to the piercing.

Wait at least a month until swelling and pain goes away. Pressure can add to the pain if you try to perform oral sex too early. Once you switch to a shorter barbell and the pain goes away you'll be able to do whatever.

Before you eat, wash your mouth out with warm water and salt. During eating, chew slowly and pick whichever side that feels better. After eating, wash your mouth out again.

No, it is best to leave it alone as much as possible to let it heal properly.

Sea salt is preferred.

The best thing to eat would be soup or cup of noodles, but make sure it is just warm and not hot at all, or it may burn your tongue and cause pain. Cold things such as popsicles are good for bringing down the swelling as well. It's difficult to eat the first couple days, but pain goes down in about a week or so.

Your piercer should know. It is usually just the width of your tongue for the jewelry not to move up and down.

It is normal for your tongue piercing to bleed for a couple of days and then stop. Try not to play with the jewelry in your mouth and drink lots of cold water or let crushed ice melt in your mouth.

Not at first. It will hurt and get your new piercing infected. After the healing process is done (around one month), you can eat all kinds of food normally.

This is most likely because you played with the jewelry in your mouth during healing and the top hole got larger than it should be.

No, a good and experienced piercer will check both sides of your tongue very carefully before piercing to ensure she does not pierce your blood vessels.

No, but smoking will slow the healing process.

Yes. Discharge is normal as your body is not used to having a metal bar going through your tongue. It tries to fight it with antibodies. Give it a week for your tongue to adjust.

You need to bring your parent or ID that shows you are over the age of 18.

Eat soft foods for the first few days. You should avoid spicy, acidic, and overly salty foods. Also, try not to eat foods that are too hot or cold, as they will irritate your piercing. If a food causes burning or stinging sensations around the area of the piercing, you'll know that it should not be in your mouth at this time. If you experience high levels of discomfort, you should consult your physician and strongly consider removing your piercing for good.

It's fine. The bump is filled with discharge just like acne bumps. It goes away on its own. You could try pressing on it with a napkin but you don't have to do that.

If you've had the piercing for a long period of time (talking years) then yes. But not if it is new or recent -- leave it in place.

Yes, it is probably just standard swelling. However, the swelling could bee caused by an infection. If it grows much larger, turns a very dark red, or oozes anything you need a doctor.

Not really. Occasionally your tongue might be a little sore and it does hurt when you get it, but after that it's not that bad!

It's normal to get sick after a tongue piercing because the discharge being swallowed contains microbes that can irritate your throat. If your sickness gets worse than a normal flu, check with a doctor.

No nothing is wrong, it is a painful piercing. Stick it out and take the pain because it will hardly hurt in a few days time. Make sure the ice is small and let the ice melt - do not eat it. Also, in the morning is probably going to be the worst, so just try to be normal and it will eventually stop hurting. If you see any discharge, discoloration or the pain doesn't improve in a few days, see your doctor.

Most piercers will slant your piercing on purpose. They may slant it backwards slightly so that the top ball sits more within the higher arch of your mouth, hence giving it more room and so it won't be pressing against the roof of your mouth. Especially during the first 2-4 weeks when you have the longer bar in.

Bioplast is usually the best option. Do some research on it to see if it works for you.

After the healing process is complete, you may remove your piercing as many times as wanted but it's better not to do so (unless needed) more than once a week. You can keep it out for a couple hours. Once the piercing is old, you can keep it out for as long as wanted without the hole closing.

It may happen for a little while, but if it persists you should get it checked by a medical professional to ensure that it is not infected.