Tongue Piercing Infection Pictures

Infection occurs when bacteria become trapped inside the piercing. Tongue piercings — especially new ones — are more prone to infections than other piercings because of all the bacteria in your mouth.

Much of the bacteria is introduced by eating and drinking. French kissing, performing oral sex, and engaging in other sexual activity can also transfer bacteria.

Mild infections can typically be treated at home. But if your symptoms are severe — or if this is your first time dealing with an infection — you should see your piercer right away.

Is My Tongue Piercing Infected If The Bottom Hole Is White Around It And A Bit Red And It Stings When I Push The Bar Up To Touch The Bottom?

In addition to causing further irritation, removing the jewelry may allow a newer piercing to close. This can trap bacteria and allow the infection to spread beyond the piercing site.

Regular cleansing is the best way to flush out bacteria and prevent further irritation. Morning and night cleanings are ideal. You may also consider rinsing with a saline solution after every meal.

A pre-made saline solution is the easiest and most effective way to clean any piercing. You can buy these over the counter (OTC) at your piercer’s shop or local pharmacy.

Tongue Piercing Infection: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention, And More

You can use mouthwash to rinse after a meal and as part of your normal oral care routine. Follow all package directions and avoid swallowing.

Cold compresses can help reduce pain and swelling. The numbing effects may be preferable to warm compresses, especially if you’re in a lot of pain.

You can suck on ice cubes for a few minutes at a time to help alleviate symptoms. Repeat as often as you’d like.

How Do You Treat An Infected Tongue Piercing: 8 Diy Methods

You may not want to use a warm compress if you’re already experiencing uncomfortable warmth at the piercing site. In this case, start with a cold compress and switch to a warm compress as needed.

You can make your own warm compress by sticking a damp towel or other cloth-based item in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time.

You can make these modifications to your homemade compress, too. Just make sure your cloth can be sealed or folded so that none of the added ingredients can fall out.

Tongue Piercing Healing: Day By Day

OTC antibiotics have long been used to treat infections. However, these aren’t useful — and can even be dangerous — for piercings.

Topical creams and ointments can trap bacteria inside the piercing and make things worse. Plus, they aren’t intended to be used inside your mouth.

Oral cleansers that contain hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, and other antibacterial ingredients can also harm healthy skin cells and slow down the healing process.

Fascinating Facts About Tongue Piercings You Should Know About

You’re better off sticking with your cleansing and compress routine. See your piercer if you don’t see improvement within a day or two.

When it comes to tongue piercings, you have to do more than just clean the piercing site. You have to keep the rest of your mouth clean, too.

Flossing helps remove food and plaque stuck in between your teeth. When not removed, this can lead to bacteria overgrowth and gingivitis. Floss your teeth once a day.

Tongue Piercing Infected?

Brushing twice a day is just as important as flossing. You may also consider brushing midday to help prevent bacteria buildup. Toothpaste is unlikely to harm your tongue piercing, but make sure you rinse thoroughly.

Extremely crunchy foods, such as chips, can cause additional pain and irritation. You should also avoid peppers, chili powder, and other spices.

Alcohol can act as a blood thinner, as well as damage the cells around the piercing. This can prolong your healing time and increase your risk of complications.

How To Take Care Of Your Tongue Piercing (with Pictures)

Coffee may also have blood-thinning effects. If you don’t want to take a temporary hiatus, cut back on your usual intake until the infection clears.

Learning to evaluate everything that may come into contact with your tongue — and adjusting accordingly — can help you reduce the amount of bacteria, debris, and dirt that get into the piercing.

Unless your piercer says otherwise, maintain your daily cleansing and soaking routine. Keep this up until all symptoms subside and until your tongue piercing completely heals.

Barbell Shaped Tongue Piercing.

See your piercer if your symptoms don’t improve within two to three days, or if they worsen. They can take a look at the piercing and make specific recommendations for cleaning and care.

Has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Learn what to do if you think you have a tongue piercing infection. Plus, take steps to make sure you never get a tongue piercing infection.

Infections happen, but we’ve got you covered. Learn what to do if you think you have a tongue piercing infection. Plus, take the right steps to prevent infection from negatively impacting your new tongue piercing. In this blog, we also cover common issues often mistaken for an infection and proper tongue piercing aftercare.

Ludwig Got Your Tongue? It May Be Complications From That Piercing

Infections develop when pathogenic bacteria colonize the piercing hole or fistula. Because our mouths are full of bacteria, infections are more common with tongue piercings than with other types of piercings. Bacteria can be introduced to the piercing site by drinking, eating, kissing, touching your tongue ring, or having oral sex. Even apart from these activities, the bacteria that already colonize your mouth can make their way into the piercing and cause an infection. But don’t worry – remember that with proper aftercare, good dental hygiene, and a reputable piercer, infections from tongue piercings are still rare.

What does an infected tongue piercing look like? Though tongue piercing infections can present differently, these are typically the signs of an infected tongue piercing:

When you have a true tongue piercing infection, it’s important to act quickly and reach out to your piercer or doctor. However, many people mistake normal signs of healing for an infection. Piercing bumps and lymph fluid are both completely normal and harmless parts of healing that are often mistaken for signs of infection.

Why Is My Tongue Raw And Sore On The Sides After My Tongue Piercing?

The normal discharge of lymph fluid from a healing tongue piercing is not a sign of infection. As your body heals the fistula, a clear-ish or whitish discharge may appear around the top or bottom of your piercing. Don’t panic – that’s just lymph. It’s your body’s way of delivering extra white blood cells to the wound, which speeds healing and prevents infection.

In any external piercing, the lymph would dry to a whitish crust that you can then gently wipe or wash away. In the mouth, lymph doesn’t dry, and it can easily be mistaken for pus by someone unfamiliar with tongue piercings’ healing process. 

With new piercings, it’s normal to have mild inflammation in the form of a bump around the piercing site. While these “piercing bumps” are most common with cartilage piercings in the nose or ear, they can occur with any piercing. Piercing bumps will often subside on their own as healing progresses. Consequently, they’re not necessarily a sign of infection. 

Metal Tongue Piercings Linked To Raised Infection Risks

In rarer cases, bumps can be due to a true infection. In these cases, the bump will often be quite painful, swollen, red, or warm. Of course, the tongue is already warm and red as it is, and some swelling and pain are normal after piercing. If you’re unsure whether your symptoms are signs of an infection, call your piercer and have them take a look. An experienced piercer can distinguish between a piercing that’s healing normally and one that is showing signs of infection. If your bump is leaking pus and is accompanied by fever, nausea, or chills, it’s almost certainly infected, and you can seek care from your doctor or dentist immediately. 

Finally, small bumps can also be due to excess scar tissue. In this case, they aren’t a cause for concern as long as they aren’t bothersome or accompanied by other symptoms like swelling, pain, bleeding, or pus. 

If your tongue piercing is irritated but is not showing signs of infection, you may just be mildly allergic to your jewelry. Solid titanium tongue rings are your best bet if you’re having an allergic reaction to the metal. That’s because titanium is the most inert metal and least likely to cause a reaction. Many reputable piercers opt for titanium rings to begin with. Ask your piercer about their body jewelry to be sure.

What Does Your Dentist Think About Tongue Piercing?

If you’re still within the first 7–10 days after your piercing, you may also just need to give it more time to heal. However, if you decide you want to try a titanium tongue ring, get your piercer to help you change your jewelry. Make sure they give you a solid titanium tongue ring rather than a coated one, preferably one that’s internally threaded, so your healing fistula doesn’t get scraped when the new jewelry passes through your tongue.

If your tongue is excessively swollen and your barbell is pressing in or “swallowing” either or both barbell balls, your tongue ring is too short. You need to see your piercer ASAP to have it swapped out for a longer one. That’s because prolonged pressure on a piercing can lead to tissue death (necrosis), which can lead to infection.

Proper aftercare and oral hygiene are the best defenses against tongue ring infections. These are a few of the basics you’ll

Worried You May Have An Infected Tongue Piercing? Signs, Symptoms, And Treatment