Tongue pain after a piercing? Here’s what you can do
Managing tongue piercing pain and other complications
Thinking of getting your tongue pierced? There are a few things you’ll need to know in advance about the healing process, and how to keep the risk of infection down.
In this article, we’ll discuss tongue piercing pain, potential complications from a tongue piercing, what to eat and drink while it heals, and how to manage your comfort.
In this guide:
What to expect from a tongue piercing
Let’s talk about pain first.
When compared to other forms of piercing, tongues do actually sit at the lower end of the pain scale; while there are lots of nerve endings in the tongue, there aren’t as many as you would find in more sensitive parts of the body. Consensus seems to be that they tend not to hurt as much as you think they’re going to.
As for other complications, this is where tongue piercings get a little trickier.
Your mouth contains more bacteria than any other part of the body, with the exception of your gut. Because of that, tongue piercings can be more prone to infection than other piercing types.
Additionally, there is a link between tongue piercings and tooth damage or abrasion, as well as gingival recession, i.e. receding gums.
How to spot if your tongue piercing has gotten infected
First, know that the chances of getting an infection after a tongue piercing are relatively low - even with all that bacteria in your mouth. If you take proper care of your oral health, let your body heal properly, and follow the advice of both this article and your piercing expert, there’s a high chance you’ll be OK.
In fact, multiple studies have interviewed recently pierced people and found very few actual cases of infection. In this review, for example, of three studies reported on (totalling over 200 people surveyed) only three people developed an infection.
Signs of tongue infection after a piercing
Normal symptoms which follow a tongue piercing include:
Pain and throbbing.
Redness and/or swelling.
Heat or warmth in the pierced area.
Discharge from the pierced area, usually white or clear in colour.
Signs that these symptoms are turning into an infection include:
Persistent pain or pain which gets worse, even intense.
Regular bleeding which doesn’t heal after a few days.
Discharge turns green or yellow, and smells bad.
Fever.
Unusual tissue growth in the mouth, especially near the pierced area.
None of the above gets any better within a few days.
When to see a dentist
If…
Your healing symptoms turn into any of the signs of infection described above.
You don’t feel like your tongue pain is going away.
You’re concerned at all about your healing process.
…it’s time to visit the dentist!
Dentists are oral health specialists and that includes the tongue. Your dentist will examine your mouth, talk about your symptoms, and help you understand how your healing process is getting on. If there really is a problem, they’ll help you intervene and get back on track.
Treating tongue piercing pain: Healing at home
The tongue pain healing process
Within 24 hours
On the day of your piercing, you’ll likely feel sore and swollen, and you may have some trouble talking. After all, your tongue has a new hole in it.
It’s important that you avoid touching your piercing or knocking it about in your mouth, to decrease irritation.
The first three days
During the first few days of having your tongue pierced, aches and swelling will likely be your primary concern. It’s very normal to be a bit sore for a few days, and to experience some of the symptoms we mentioned earlier.
You may have difficulty eating in these early days, and some specialists recommend placing food straight onto your molars when you eat, rather than eating normally. It may also help to drink smoothies and liquid foods while you adjust.
On top of this, there are some aftercare tips you’ll need to think about. We’ll talk more about those below!
The first week
By the end of your first week, the pain and swelling should begin to come down - though you may still experience a bit of bleeding and discharge.
The risk of infection remains quite high even after seven days, so you can’t let up on keeping the site clean and taking it easy. Again, we’ll cover aftercare tips in more detail below.
The first month
Beyond that first week, the pain should be more or less gone and, as you proceed through to 10-15 days or so, your piercing may even look entirely healed. But, don’t be deceived! The tongue typically heals from the outside in, which means even if the outside of the wound has closed over, the inside may remain sensitive.
By this point you should also have gotten more adapted to having the piercing in your mouth, and you’ll probably be able to start exploring more diverse food and drink again.
Beyond the first month
People tend to agree that the tongue piercing healing process is usually complete within six to eight weeks. Though, this will of course depend entirely on you, your mouth, and how well you’ve taken care of the piercing site these past weeks.
Some people still find that certain foods cause irritation even at this point, so it’s possible you’ll need to gently experiment with what you can and can’t handle.
After eight weeks, you should be more or less back to normal.
What not to do while your tongue is healing
To reduce irritation in those initial healing days…
Try not to talk too much.
Don’t play with your new jewellery.
Avoid contact sports or any activity which might bash or knock around your new piercing.
Don’t use tongue scrapers.
To reduce the chances of infection…
Avoid kissing and oral sex.
Avoid using lipstick, lip gloss, etc.
Don’t share food or drink.
Long-term care tips for a new tongue piercing
1. Always choose high-quality jewellery material
Lower-grade materials (such as brass, zinc or tin) may cause irritation in some people, or increase the risk of rejection. Similarly, some people find common precious metals such as silver or gold to be irritating to their skin.
Titanium is a commonly preferred material, though your piercing specialist can advise on this matter to ensure you get the right fit for your mouth.
2. Visit the dentist more regularly from now on
The reality is, even after your tongue piercing has healed you’ll still be at a higher risk of problems in the mouth - for example, damage to your teeth and gum recession.
If you go to the dentist more regularly from now on, they will be able to monitor the state of your mouth, spot a problem as it occurs, and offer treatment advice to help you stay safe.
Summary
Tongue piercings aren’t considered as painful as piercings in more sensitive parts of the body, though they do come with an increased risk of infection.
To manage tongue piercing pain and other complications, it’s important to take it easy for the first few weeks after the procedure. Avoiding food or drink irritants, taking care around the piercing site, and giving yourself time to heal will all go far to ensuring a successful healing process.
Throughout the early days and onwards, maintaining good oral health can help you reduce the risk of infection. Of course, if you’re ever worried then visit your dentist.
Book a dentist appointment today
Need to speak to someone? Book an appointment with a member of our friendly team by calling us on 09 430 0707, popping in to see us on Maunu Road, Whangārei, or book online.