When you think about body mods, two things come to mind instantly – tattoos and tongue piercing. While the range of piercing is impressively vast and versatile, there is rarely any other placement that can compare with tongue piercings. However, no matter the popularity and impressive requirement, many things remain unknown about the accessory. To ease your life and make the aftercare less effort-involving, you should read the guide through before you finalize your decision. Keep in mind – there are more variants than a good old middle tongue piercing to consider!
*We may earn money from affiliate links on this page. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.QUICK NAVIGATION
- Tongue Piercing Types
- Vertical Tongue Piercing
- Horizontal Tongue Piercing
- Venom Bites (Twin Tongue Piercings)
- Tongue Web Piercing (Frenulum Linguae)
- Double or Triple Tongue Piercings
- Choosing a Professional Piercer
- Tongue Piercing Pain Level
- Tongue Piercing Aftercare Tips
Pros and Cons of Tongue Piercing
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fashionable Self-Expression: Tongue piercings are edgy, individual, and visually appealing. You can make it your fashion statement or use it as a form of self-expression. | Initial Pain and Swelling: The piercing process itself is quite painful. Besides, your tongue will swell considerably after the procedure and stay that way for a few days. |
| Variety of Styles: There’s more than a single piercing style to choose from when it comes to tongue piercings. You can choose from midline, tongue web, venom bites, and other types to compliment your identity. | Speech and Eating Changes: Tongue piercing will have a temporary effect on your speech and eating habits. It will be harder to pronounce some words, and your diet should be modified before the swelling goes away. |
| Bold Jewelry Options: Some tongue piercings are subtler than others in terms of placement. However, you can change that through carefully picked jewelry so that even the most concealable piercing becomes bold and noticeable. | Oral Health Risks: You can ruin your teeth if you keep biting on the piercing occasionally. Besides, there’s a risk of gum damage associated with the piercing. |
| Quick Healing Time: When compared to other types of piercing, a tongue piercing is known to heal faster than most when looked after well. It takes between 4-6 weeks for it to heal fully. | Infection Concerns: If you don’t care for your newly acquired piercing well, there’s a high risk of infection. |
| Hidden or Revealed: You can hide your piercing and show it at will or don’t show it at all. | Dress Code Considerations: Some dress codes prohibit such body mods as tattoos and piercings. |
Tongue Piercing Types
Usually, there are two main types of tongue piercing distinguished. They are described as single tongue piercing and double tongue piercing, but there are more subcategories to consider before making up your mind.
Middle tongue – a traditional type of single tongue piercings which is located in the middle of the tongue.
Multiple piercings – you can experiment with tongue piercing the way you would with other mouth piercings. So, if you feel like three piercings in a row would suffice your image, you can add them to your tongue piercing types chart easily.
What tongue piercing would you like to get?
Anonymous quiz
- Single
- Doble
Vote to see results
What tongue piercing would you like to get?
Tongue Piercing Geometry
Aside from the number of piercings, you can decide upon the position. Two leading positions are distinguished between when it comes to tongue piercing.
Vertical Tongue Piercing
A simple middle tongue piercing or its double variation that is placed vertically is usually referred to as vertical tongue piercing. There are no specific names to distinguish between.
Horizontal Tongue Piercing
- Snake eyes tongue piercing – a peculiar variation of tongue piercing types with just the tip pierced.
- Snake bites tongue piercing – double tongue piercing that reminds of a snake bite. Sometimes this type of horizontal tongue piercing is referred to as venom tongue piercing.
Venom Bites (Twin Tongue Piercings)
Twin tongue piercings or venom bites are a type of tongue piercing when your tongue is pierced twice on either side of your tongue. Usually, venom bites are perfectly symmetrical. As you may have already guessed, the captivating name derived from the piercing’s unique resemblance to that of the snake fangs/bites.
There’s more than a single reason why twin piercings are so popular at the moment. First things first, the piercing is easy to spot when you speak since it is placed in the front part of the tongue. Moreover, the variety of jewelry to choose from is impressive, so you can make your piercing look as individual as possible. Lastly, a double-pierced tongue is twice as rebellious and edgy-looking than a traditional tongue piercing, don’t you think?
Tongue Web Piercing (Frenulum Linguae)
If you are looking for a more discreet tongue piercing, then a frenulum linguae or tongue web piercing is a good idea to brood upon. The piercing is placed under your tongue, piercing the frenulum, a connective tissue between the floor of the mouth and your tongue.
One of the most outstanding features of tongue web piercing is that it is inconspicuous. However, on top of that, it has minimal interference with the speech and eating process and heals quicker than most piercings. Yet, you must care for your piercing well to prevent infection and rinse it with a saline solution after every meal course.
In terms of jewelry, curved barbells, and captive bead rings are the most popular options, making some people say that the piercing lacks versatility.
Double or Triple Tongue Piercings
If you want to take things further than twin tongue piercing, you can opt for multiple piercings. Usually, those are two or three piercings on your tongue in a row, vertically or horizontally. Such a style aims to create a visually unique appeal that would help you stand out.
In most cases, multiple piercings are lined symmetrically on the tongue. This is done to preserve balance and intensify the appeal of the piercing. However, you can showcase your identity through the jewelry choice since the range of options is nearly unlimited. You can experiment with barbells, bead rings, and whatever decorative pieces you see fit.
The multiple piercings allow it to play around with different patterns and combos that present unobstructed customization and unique aesthetics.
People Also Ask
Can I smoke with a tongue piercing?
Why is my tongue white after piercing?
Can I change my tongue piercing after 2 weeks?
Choosing a Professional Piercer
In case you are set on getting your tongue pierced, you need a professional piercer to perform the procedure. Why does choosing a reputable and experienced piercer matter?
- A piercing expert sticks to a strict hygiene routine to minimize the risk of infection and related complications.
- An experienced artist has the required skills to perform the task so that the piercing is placed ideally and swiftly, with minimal discomfort.
- Trusted piercers and salons present a reliable collection of tongue jewelry to choose from. Such an approach will reduce the risk of allergic reactions and potential infections.
Follow these tips and pieces of advice to land a qualified piercer and a trusted studio:
- Research the studios in your area. Read the user reviews and feedback online. Ask your friends and acquaintances for recommendations.
- Check studio licenses and certificates.
- Visit the studio to check the working conditions and cleanliness of the place. A sterile environment is mandatory.
- Ask the expert anything you want to know about the procedure, aftercare, potential risks, etc.
- Browse through a piercer’s portfolio to ensure that the person is qualified in your desired style.
Tongue Piercing Pain Level
If you want to get, your tongue pierced but you worry that you won’t be able to withstand the pain – breathe out! A tongue piercing is considered to be the least painful piercings to opt for. Surely, it depends upon your personal pain sensitivity, but professionals describe it as mild.
Healing Period
How long does it take a tongue piercing to heal? The better you care for the pierced area, the faster it will heal. However, on average, it takes around 6 weeks for the pierced place to properly heal. Changing the jewelry until then is unadvised.
Tongue Piercing Aftercare Tips
When you learn how long does a tongue piercing take to heal, you may falsely assume that there is nothing you should do to speed the process up. Yet, that is not true since your tongue is the most bacteria-filled area whatsoever. So, you should use these tips to avoid the infected tongue piercing outcome.
- Rinse your mouth after each meal.
- Don’t touch the piercing with dirty hands.
- Chance the toothbrush regularly.
- Clean your piercing at least twice a day.
- Keep away from hot drinks and spicy food.
- Don’t play around with the jewelry.
A tongue piercing is as popular as it has been, starting with the early 2000s. Yet, the variety of fancy piercing variations grows, and you can pick the one that completes your style perfectly. Don’t forget that proper aftercare is a must!
Was this article helpful?
