Many piercing establishments have their own specific rules and may decline a tongue piercing to a minor. So it’s best to ensure if they will pierce a 15-year-old before fixing an appointment.

These rules are established to protect the minor, so it’s better to wait until you are older and not try to find a piercer who will overlook these regulations.

What is the appropriate age for a tongue piercing?

The appropriate age to get a tongue piercing is dependent on the person and the local rules/laws where they live. Some teens are mature enough to manage this type of piercing, while others may not be responsible enough to handle the aftercare. Even with parental consent, many piercing establishments will not provide tongue piercing services to teens below the age of 16.

Tongue piercings take the risk of a bacterial infection, nerve damage, or other problems such as drooling, taste loss, or chipped teeth because of the persistent rubbing of the metal against the teeth.

Which tongue piercing is the safest?

The safest kind of tongue piercing is a tongue piercing at the center of your tongue. It is the most usual and more normal tongue piercing, usually done with a hollow 14 or 16-gauge piercing needle. The healing period is about 4-6 weeks. Others, like a double tongue piercing, can bring about tongue mobility problems, resulting in speech or eating problems. They could also result in sensation loss, especially if not done properly.

How long will my tongue hurt after piercing?

A tongue piercing will cause pain more than a standard ear lobe piercing but doesn’t have pain as much where the cartilage is pierced as in specific nose piercings, or other body piercings.

When the piercing is performed, you will feel a little pain (less pain than a tongue bite), and the area will be painful for several days.

The tongue is subject to a lot of bacteria, so a tongue piercing is more likely to get infected and be sore if you don’t take care of it correctly. Most swelling should decrease within a week, and full healing takes around 4 – 6 weeks.

If you do choose to get a piercing, please ensure to get your parent’s consent and call your local piercing shop to make sure at what age you can get a tongue piercing. Keep in mind to always follow all the aftercare guidelines to refrain from getting an infection

Aftercare regulations

Your tongue is subjected to the bacteria that your saliva harbors, food, drinks, and anything else you put on or near your mouth. Beyond cleaning every day, you need to take extra care to keep things away from your mouth that shouldn’t be there. Here are some rapid tongue piercing aftercare tips.

Do a sea salt mouth rinse 2 – 3 times per day.

The power of salt to cure is one of Mother Nature’s natural surprises. Simply blend one cup of warm refined water with ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized salt and swish it in your mouth for a couple of minutes, ensuring that the liquid completely cleans the tongue-piercing jewelry. If you prefer saline piercing aftercare goods, these are fine, too. Just make sure that the solution consists of nothing else than sterile water and sodium chloride.

Eat soft food at the outset of healing.

Your tongue will be pretty painful, so you might not even be able to handle anything that needs masticating. However, you should choose soft foods, regardless. Before you get used to your jewelry, you’ll take the risk of chewing vigorously on it and breaking your teeth, especially since your starter jewelry will be larger to accommodate swelling. As you get used to the new piercing, begin with soft foods while you relearn how to masticate. You should also eschew spicy or acidic food. Not only will this type of food be bothersome to your piercing, but it will cause some excruciating pain.

Bring along a toothbrush and a sea salt mouthwash with you.

After every meal, you need to ensure that you cleanse the piercing of any remaining food debris. Keep a toothbrush, toothpaste, and alcohol-free mouthwash with you so that you can rapidly clean your mouth after your meals. Brushing your teeth in a public place can be difficult, so in later days of healing, a quick rinse will be great. But, in the first days, it’s better to take precautions and completely clean your mouth after every meal. Be careful not to brush the piercing itself; you can clean with saltwater mouthwash alternatively.

Avoid alcohol or cigarettes.

As your tongue piercing heals, you must stay away from substances that will irritate it. These substances are alcohol and cigarettes. If you must drink alcohol, select beverages like beer and wine rather than hard liquor, which will be more irritating to your piercing. As for cigarettes, try to decrease use while your piercing is healing. If you must smoke, clean your mouth after every smoke break, and be careful about any harmful side effects.