What began as a religious practice in the Aztec and Mayan cultures, tongue rings are gaining popularity around the world. Although there are a variety of tongue rings and tongue piercings available, the traditional straight barbell piercing remains the most popular.
Teenagers and adults with previous piercings often wonder if this style of tongue ring will be visible when they speak, will it cause a lot of swelling, and will they experience any problems eating after the piercing is done? To answer these questions, many search online and to make it more convenient, I have compiled the general answers in this article.
People also often wonder if the tongue piercing process will be especially painful and the most common question is “How much will it hurt to get my tongue pierced?” This is hard to answer because some people report that it didn’t even hurt as much as an earring, and others say that it’s the most excruciating piercing out there. Everyone has a different pain threshold, so consider this: if it was completely unbearable, there wouldn’t be many people with tongue piercings.
How bad will my tongue swell? Will people see my tongue buzzing when I speak?
Immediately after the piercing, you are likely to experience a lot of swelling and this is the most difficult time to hide the tongue ring. Speaking will not be impossible, but you may notice some difficulty pronouncing words and sounds due to swelling. Try this by eating or sucking on ice for a long time until your tongue feels numb, then try talking. It’s not the same, but it might at least give you an idea of what to expect.
No matter where the tongue is pierced, the piercer should wear sterilized titanium or stainless steel tongue rings. Unfortunately, these aren’t clear or tongue-colored, which makes them harder to hide. As soon as the piercing heals completely, you can replace it with one that is not so obvious. Tongue rings also come in different lengths. Users report that a shorter bar is easier to hide, but also be aware that dentists say this type will cause more damage to the enamel because it is easier to hold between your teeth.
Another option for hiding tongue rings is to place the piercing as far back on the tongue as possible. This is not always the best technique because the placement of the ring is highly dependent on the location of the veins on the tongue. This is another reason to go to a qualified professional piercer: he or she will (medically) know where the tongue ring can go.
Many suggest that newly pierced teens and adults try to keep their mouths closed as often as possible and try to keep their voices quiet so they don’t have to open their mouths as wide.
Can I eat regularly after my tongue ring is placed?
No wonder here, the thing to watch out for is swelling. Although you may not experience much pain at the piercing site, the swollen size of your tongue can make it difficult to eat solid foods. Professionals recommend soup and soft foods like applesauce or mashed potatoes. Also, there is always the option of ice cream. The swelling will start to go down in a few days and your tongue should be back to normal in about a week.