How to Care for a Tongue Piercing
Having your tongue pierced can be a fun and unique way of expressing yourself. The procedure itself can be a bit painful and the after effects can be uncomfortable. Proper care can help you to avoid any infections and help you to get used to your new accessory as quickly as possible.
For the first few days after the piercing, you will have swelling. This swelling will cause you to have some difficulty with eating and speaking. You should stick with soft and mushy foods for the first few days and avoid spicy and salty foods for about a week.
Rinse with either a mixture of salt and warm water or an alcohol-free mouthwash first thing in the morning, after each meal and before bed.
When eating, use caution and take small bites. It will take some time to get used to the piercing and you will want to avoid it banging against your teeth where it can cause damage.
Drinking ice water or allowing ice chips to dissolve in your mouth can help to keep the swelling down.
Avoid touching the piercing. If you do need to touch it, then wash beforehand with antibacterial soap.
Once the swelling has gone down, you will need to replace the longer barbell with a shorter one that fits better. It is best to see your piercer to make this change and they can check on how the tongue is healing.