How to Care for an Oral Piercing

Last Updated: June 4, 2022 References Approved

Are you planning on getting an oral piercing? Congratulations! The key now is getting your piercing at a clean and trustworthy location and keeping your new piercing sterile as it heals. Don't worry—with the proper precautions, it's super to keep care for your new piercing and keep it infection-free. We've put together some hygienic tips and tricks to help you get started.

1

Go to a reliable and certified piercing studio.

It's never a good idea to give yourself an oral piercing. If you pierce your tongue in the wrong place it can lead to tongue (and skin) deformities. Needles and jewelry need to be sterilized correctly before it goes anywhere near your mouth!^{[1]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
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- Remember—piercings can often develop infections and lead to serious problems, so it's important to be diligent!^{[2]
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2

Expect your tongue to swell up.

Your tongue will swell up to about twice its normal size. Don't worry; this is normal. Swelling will start reducing in 3-5 days and go away completely in 7-8.^{[3]
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3

Care your tongue as it starts to heal.

Rinse your tongue and mouth regularly with salt water to prevent infection. During this time do not play with or touch your tongue, and always rinse your tongue if this happens accidentally or after eating food.
- Tongue piercings heal in about 6-8 weeks.

4

Eat mashed and soft foods for the first 3-5 days.

You can eat solid foods at this point. Still, be sure to rinse after eating anything.

5

Cut back on mouth rinsing after the swelling goes down.

Rinsing after eating food that may get lodged is still a good idea. Once your piercing is fully healed, normal oral care (brushing teeth and mouthwash) is sufficient.^{[4]
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6

Expect the piercing's "crust" to disappear in 2-3 months.

There will be a crust or hard spot around the hole where you've been pierced. Don't worry—it should disappear in two to three months.

7

Clean your jewelry before wearing it.

Sterilize your jewelry if your piercing is less than 6 months old.^{[5]
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Community Q&A

Question

What kind of mouthwash do I use?

Community Answer

Non-alcoholic based mouthwashes. Anything with an alcohol base will cause irritation and potentially cause your piercing to take longer to heal.
Question

Is it normal to feel dizzy after getting my tongue pierced?

Community Answer

Yes and no, it is normal to get dizzy while you're getting it done or a little bit after because of the pain, but if you're bleeding a lot, and getting nauseous after you got it done, then you should go to the hospital or get help immediately, as you could have hit a vein which can cause serious problems.
Question

Can I use Listerine or spirits on my piercing?

Sara Cathro

Community Answer

When using mouthwash, dilute it with water. The alcohol can dry out the piercing if it is full strength.

Warnings

Do not eat popcorn for several weeks after getting the piercing (while it normally takes but a few days to heal enough to eat solids without problem popcorn must be avoided for much longer). Popcorn contains small hard pieces of the kernel shell, these may become lodged around the bar inside of the piercing and are very difficult to remove.

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Don't drink soda when you first get an oral piercing! The fizziness may be irritating.

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A tongue piercing, unlike other piercings, is through striated muscle. This has a higher ability to completely heal. Due to this even after a couple years, removing the piercing for an extended amount of time may result in your piercing healing closed. After 3 or more years this typically is not the case and you may leave it out for long periods of times without worry.

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It's VERY important to make sure your piercing doesn't come into contact with the bodily fluids of others while it's healing- be careful to refrain from oral sex or open mouth kissing that could spread dangerous germs.^{[6]
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Never clean piercings with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as it is very dangerous to do so!^{[7]
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Be careful when choosing a mouthwash to use, antiseptic mouthwashes that do not contain alcohol are the best, if you cannot find an alcohol free antiseptic mouthwash, dilute your mouthwash with water. Mouthwash containing alcohol won't kill you though it just may make the healing process a little longer. Alcohol mouthwash kills more germs though.^{[8]
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Mayo Clinic
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