Double Tongue Piercing

If the thought of getting a makeover has been lurking in your mind for a while, let me suggest one great way to change your entire look. If you are bored of the way you look, getting a tongue piercing might just work for you. Though there are different types of body piercings such as eyebrow piercing, lip piercing, navel piercing, ear piercing and nose piercing, many youngsters are getting their tongue pierced. Well, it certainly takes a bit of courage to get a tongue piercing, but if you are up for it, you can even try the double tongue piercing and take your look to the next level. This trend is catching up fast and many people are going for this latest fashion fad.

Double Center/Off-Center Tongue Piercing

A double tongue piercing, as the name suggests, involves two separate piercings of the tongue. Separate barbells are worn on the two separate piercings. Before you visit the piercing studio, you need to decide which type of tongue piercing you would like to get. Would you like to go in for the positioning where both the barbells are placed in the horizontal direction or in a vertical position in the center of the tongue? The off-center piercings where the two barbells are placed on either side of the tongue are known as 'venoms'. This off-center placement is slightly more difficult due to the factors such as placement of the teeth and size and shape of your tongue.

Once you have made up your mind regarding the placement of the piercing, the piercing professional will mark the piercing spot and clamp the tongue. This will be followed by the insertion of the needle into the marking. The barbells or the jewelry of your choice will then be inserted into the tongue.

Caring for a Tongue Piercing

If you have decided to get a double piercing, you must first find a piercing studio, where the work will be done by certified piercing professionals. This is important because while getting this type of piercing, the placement of the piercing spot and barbells should be correct, a wrong placement can lead to infections and problems such as chipped teeth. Though you could get both piercings at the same time, you also have the option of getting a single piercing first. When that heals completely, you can get the second piercing. Anyway, this is your decision, if you are comfortable with getting a double piercing at one go, just remember to pay more attention to the aspect of tongue piercing aftercare.

If you notice a slight redness and swelling on your tongue after getting the double piercing, there is no need to panic. It is common, but you need to take a lot of precautions to avoid a tongue piercing infection. You will need to pay attention to oral hygiene. You must resist the temptation of touching the barbells every now and then. Whenever you do, make sure that you first wash your hands with an anti-bacterial soap. You might face difficulties while eating, so, it would be better to avoid solid food for a week. You must also avoid alcohol, hot beverages and spicy foods for at least 10 days. Have ice creams, cold drinks and cold foods. After drinking or eating, make sure that you rinse your mouth with a mouthwash.

Poor oral hygiene means giving an open invitation to bacteria and increasing the chances of an infection. For a quicker healing, rinse your mouth with diluted, non-alcoholic mouthwash. Salt water soaks are also helpful when it comes to healing. Make sure that no food particles are stuck around the piercing sites. You must not change the barbell till the piercing has healed completely. Get your tongue pierced from a certified piercing studio, as only the professional can inform you about the precautions. Don't take the risk by getting the piercing done from an amateur. Wrong placement of large-sized barbells can lead to lisping and other problems such as chipped teeth, nerve damage, bleeding, increased saliva and choking hazards.

Getting a tongue piercing is certainly a unique way to express yourself, but if you use such a body piercing to make a fashion statement, make sure that you take care in order to avoid any infections. Use the services of a professional and walk out of the piercing studio, with a new look.