tongue piercing!

jschut, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2002

Take heart... Our oldest got hers pierced too, along with her belly button. She decided she didn't like the tongue one about three weeks after it was done, and she took it out at my kitchen table. It closed shortly thereafter...no harm done.

As for her belly button, it got infected and she still has a lump where it was. She doesn't wear it anymore.

Lesson: Let them do what they are going to, cause if you set up a fuss, they'll do it anyway just to get you riled. It will be ok. :rolleyes:

Good Luck!

Julie:)

JW-HLC · Jan 12, 2002

Yuk! - If you can't influence her with one of the many stories of infections including brain abscess, dental problems etc maybe carefully reading the following will either put her off or help her care for it properly.

Tongue piercing care :eek:

MelissaCT · Jan 12, 2002

She got her tongue pierced, and her belly button.

She took the belly one out because it kept getting infected despite her best efforts.

She still has the tongue ring in. Nothing bad happened to her.

I know when it was fresh, she constantly had to use Listerine.

I think if you take it out at any time, it heals quickly.

Melissa

babynurselsa, RN · Jan 12, 2002

It is just the thing to do now. I don't know much about the care of a tongue peircing. My daughter and I both have had our belly buttons pierced. Number one is a quality ring. If she has metal allergies make sure it is either a gold or titanium ring. Stay away from the composites like Niobium. Just clean it with soap and water and stay out of the pool or lake for at least 3-6 months till the entire hole has had time to heal properly. If it get infected my advice is just get it out and let it completely heal before trying again.

a hole from a tongue piercing will close nearly immediatlely.

Trauma Columnist · Jan 12, 2002

My son pierces himself - so count your blessings!!!!

NurseDennie, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2002

The good thing about piercings is that they're not as permanent as tattoos.

The bad thing - well about tongue piercing - is the tooth damage from the ring in the tongue. I don't think I've ever met anybody who's had a tongue piercing for any length of time who doesn't have some tooth damage from the inevitable "playing with" the ring or bar. I imagine it's like having a bump on your tongue, once the pain is gone. You just automatically rub it against your teeth and play with it.

I've seen people with a bar-shaped groove worn out of their front teeth. Ick.

Love

Dennie

WashYaHands · Jan 12, 2002

This is an exerpt from an article that was published in The Journal of School Nursing.

(Armstrong & Kelly (2001). Tattooing, body piercing, and branding are on the rise: perspectives for School Nursing. The Journal of School Nursing 17 (1). p. 19).

Aftercare:

apply ice for swelling (careful not to freeze the metal).

Rinse oral piercings with antiseptic mouthwash (without alcohol) after eating.

Avoid another persons body fluids.

Slight redness the first few days is normal.

Infection:

redness, swelling or hardness, pain, heat sensation, yellow or green discharge. Call physician immediately.

Healing:

tongue piercings take approximately 4-8 weeks to heal.

Reversal:

Remove jewelry and allow piercing to close.

What to expect from the artist/piercer:

Clean, washed, and gloved hands, sterile equipment (autoclaved and opened in front of the customer), they should provide skin care instructions, they should be members of a national association and keep up with current procedures and regulations, they should be willing to show photos of their work. The should possess knowledge of correct piercing angles to heal properly, and have knowledge of site proximity to blood vessels, nerves, and lymph ducts essential to avoid permanent damage.

Hope this helps,

Linda

kids · Jan 12, 2002

Quite a bit of information was shared a couple of months ago on this thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11333&highlight=tongue (if the word tonge is in red all the way thru the thread it is because I did a search for the post-not because we were excited by the word!)

You would be amazed by how many of us are pierced!

-nancy

kids · Jan 12, 2002

Did you ever get yours done?

-nancy

Cubby · Jan 12, 2002

When my son was 15 he decided to get his eyebrow pierced. As a "responsible" parent I said NO NO NO!!

He got a frozen hotdog and a needle, and did it himself!

How he did not get an infection or god only knows what I do not know.He got tired of it about a week later.

Goes to show "it's a phase they will grow out of it"

Let her do it, It could be worse.

Michelle_nurse · Jan 12, 2002

I have a belly button ring, and the care was very frequent cleaning /c hibidil, and polysporin. I had a few infections, but once I switched to 18k gold 4 years ago, I haven't had any problems.

I like it cause it is my choice if I want it to be seen or not, and it isn't permanent, so once the babies come, it is coming out.

A tongue ring on the other hand, is very noticeable, and it must be annoying! Imagine all that we do /c our mouths!

I know that the tongue swells up a lot, and there is frequent rinsing etc.

Good luck!

and chances are your son or daughter will get sick of it, once it goes out of style, or once they see the work it takes to take care of it, not to mention the pain!!!!!!