Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Kristeen Cherney — Updated on October 20, 2023
A tongue piercing takes about six to eight weeks to heal. However, your healing time depends entirely on how you care for your new piercing. Call your doctor if you have signs of infection.
Read on to find out what symptoms are typical during this time, how your aftercare may vary from week to week when you can safely change your jewelry, and more.
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Proper aftercare techniques are crucial to the outcome of your tongue piercing. Much of this depends on where your tongue piercing is placed, as well as how many new piercings you have.
Although the bulk of your aftercare takes place within the first couple of weeks, you’ll need to stay on top of daily cleanings until the piercing has completely healed. You should still clean your piercing once it’s healed, but you’ll have more flexibility in how often you do so.
A little bit of swelling is normal — after all, your tongue now has a hole in it. Still, the amount of swelling shouldn’t keep you from drinking water or talking.
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You’ll need to be careful with the types of foods that you eat, as these can get stuck around the jewelry and make you uncomfortable. Soft, bland foods — like applesauce and yogurt — are preferred.
You can do a salt rinse to help minimize any pain and swelling. Ready-made rinses may be available for purchase from your piercer, or you can make your own at home. Use it several times per day at first to encourage the healing process.
Pain and swelling should start to subside by the end of the first week. You may find it easier to eat, but you should still stick with soft foods at this point.
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Overall pain and swelling should be done by this point. You may start eating harder, crunchier foods, but do so with care. If any discomfort develops, stick with soft foods for a bit longer.
If possible, rinse your mouth out with salt water after eating and drinking. This can help prevent food and other irritants from getting stuck around the jewelry.
By day 10, your piercing may look like it’s good to go — but appearances aren’t everything. The hole won’t be completely healed for several more weeks.
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This is considered the final stretch in your tongue piercing healing process. Continue with your salt rinses, and make sure you’re brushing and flossing.
You shouldn’t have any pain or swelling at this stage, but you might find that certain foods irritate your tongue. Any symptoms beyond this may be a sign of infection or a poor piercing job.
Once your piercer give you the OK, you can resume your normal habits. This includes eating what you want, getting intimate, and switching out your jewelry.
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You’ll still need to take precautions after the eight-week healing period, though. This ensures the health of your piercing over the long term.
While the initial piece of jewelry used for your piercing may not be your favorite, it’s important to make sure it stays put over the next eight weeks.
Removing the stud too soon can increase your risk of tears and infections. The hole may also close up if you remove the jewelry too soon.
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Once the time comes to remove the jewelry used for the piercing, it’s best to see your piercer. They can ensure a safe removal process and show you how to correctly put new jewelry in.
Once your tongue piercing has healed, you’re not completely off the hook in terms of cleaning and hygiene. You can eliminate salt rinses, but be sure to stay on top of your oral health to prevent any problems.
You’ll also want to ensure that any jewelry you select for your tongue piercing is of good quality. Look for jewelry made with steel, titanium, or 14-karat gold. Less desirable metals are more likely to cause an allergic reaction or lead to infection.
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Be sure to keep up with your regular dental checkups over the lifetime of your piercing. Tongue piercings can increase your long-term risk of cuts, tooth trauma, and gum recession. Your dentist can monitor for changes and help ensure that your piercing doesn’t cause such damages.
Although tongue piercings are quick to heal compared to other piercings, they’re extremely vulnerable to infections. Poor-quality jewelry, messing with the piercing, and improper cleaning techniques all increase your risk.
You shouldn’t remove the jewelry during this time. Doing so will trap infectious bacteria inside your tongue and may lead to further complications.
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If you decide that you want to let the piercing close up — or you just want to switch the jewelry — you should wait until the infection has completely cleared.
Any new piercing can raise lots of questions. Those done on your tongue are especially delicate. Feel free to reach out to your piercer if you have any questions concerning the results, aftercare, and healing time.
If you think you’ve developed an infection, your piercer isn’t the right source for treatment. You’ll need to call your doctor if you see signs of an infection or you’re experiencing severe discomfort.
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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.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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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