Tongue rings have become increasingly popular and more accepted now more than ever. Made up of eight muscles, the tongue is an organ from the body that is relatively easy to manage, and hence pierce. The tongue is one of the most versatile organs from the body. It is very flexible and elastic, evidenced by the ease with which it can be twisted around and made to change shape to the mouth, during eating, kissing and phonetic articulation. Tongue piercing is one of the most popular trends in the western world, as the tongue is one of the top five favorite piercing spot. Despite this, there are still numerous misconstructions about the tongue and tongue piercing in general. Below are eight interesting facts about tongue piercing;
Tongue rings are as old as the Aztecs. 
Like nose piercing and cartilage piercing, tongue piercing dates back to the ancient Aztec and Mayan civilization. Temporary tongue piercing was a norm, as oral piercing was done on priests in sacred rituals to honor gods. The intention was to draw blood for blood sacrifices. For this reason, a string or a thorn covered rope was attached to the hole. Tongue piercing was also practiced by the Haida, Kwakiutul and Tlinglit of America. Piercing the tongue was believed to create an altered state of consciousness through which they could communicate with their deities. Tongue piercing was common among Indian Fakirs and Sufis, Asian mediums and the Australian aborigines. Popularity of contemporary tongue piercing is credited to Los Angeles based body piercer, Elayne Angel.
Getting a tongue piercing is not painful.
Getting a tongue piercing is not as painful as imagined. The safest place to pierce the tongue is in the midline. The piercing is made as swiftly as possible with a cannula needle. Before piercing, the piercer will examine the tongue, paying attention to the location of blood vessels. It is crucial to get the tongue piercing done by a qualified and professional body piercer. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized.
The tongue swells after piercing.
The tongue is expected to swell to up to double its size after piercing. This is uncomfortable and essentially quite painful, especially when moving the tongue as is the case during speaking and eating. However, this is only temporary. To reduce the pain and swelling associated with new tongue piercings, it is advisable to suck on cool ice or drink chilled beverages. Alternatively, a number of people find taking anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen helpful. It is also advisable to keep your head well positioned i.e. above the level with your heart at all times. You can keep your head elevated at night by sleeping on several pillows. Swelling is expected to reduce in about three days and will subside completely in seven to eight days. When the piercing is new, a liquid diet is more fitting. However, after the firstfive days there should be no difficulty in eating solid food.
Tongue piercings do not mean poor oral hygiene
There is a misconception that due to food chewed, exposure to germs and dirt, and constant oral bacteria that the mouth is a dirty place and that tongue piercing are prone to numerous infections. However, the presence of saliva acts as a deterrent for infections. The mouth reacts to the invasion of foreign bodies in the mouth cavity by increasing production of saliva, which contains powerful enzymes like LAP and Ptyalin. For this reason, you should expect an increase in saliva after getting a new piercing.
Usually, activities such as brushing the teeth may prove excessively difficult in the first days or weeks after the piercing. However, it is still very crucial to maintain high levels of oral hygiene to prevent the piercing from getting infected. For this reason, you ought to rinse your mouth with salty water about 12 times daily. During the healing process, one should avoid.
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Oral sex
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Touching the area and kissing (this could cause infection)
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Alcohol
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Smoking
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Products containing tea tree oil
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Hydrogen peroxide
If you must use mouthwash ensure that it is alcohol free. You ought to get a new toothbrush once you have a tongue piercing.
Tongue rings increase sexual pleasure
A tongue piercing is one of the most common piercings that people get in order to increase sexual stimulation. Tongue rings enhance the pleasure derived from oral sex, for both men and women. The barbell of the ring can be used by a skilled lover to tease, stimulate and pleasure a partner when performing oral sex. In women, the ball of the barbell can be used to excite the clitoris, while for men the ball massages the skin of the shaft of the penis.
Tongue piercings close up very quickly. The tongue, as discussed above is a muscle; hence tongue piercings can be close up very quickly. Holes that are completely healed can be close up, if a barbell is not inserted, in a matter of hours. Larger stretched holes can take a few days. For this reason, it is important to always have the barbell on. During healing, the tongue piercing should not be removed.
Risks associated with tongue piercings
Complication
If not handled properly, tongue piercing can lead to dental complications like fractured teeth and gum recession.
Crack teeth
Biting on the barbell while eating, specifically metal barbells, can lead to cracking of the teeth.
Dental fractures
It is estimated that about 14 % to 41% of people who get their tongue pierced experience some form of dental fractures.
Receding gums
Tongue piercing have also been associated with receding gums, a condition referred to as periodontal disease. This is reported to happen to about 19% to 68% of people with tongue piercing. This is attributed to friction between the barbell and the gums of the lower teeth. This irritation is said to cause the gums to recede.
Slurred speech
Slurred speech is to be expected in the first few days after the tongue piercing has been inserted, especially when the tongue is swollen. However, the slurred speech is expected to subside gradually during healing. If a tongue piercing affects your speech, you ought to change the barbell to a smaller one.
Tongue rings are very stylish, and have been adorned by many including Janet Jackson, Drew Barrymore, Zara Phillips and Mel B. Getting it professionally done and having adequate aftercare is the goal to trouble-free piercing. In addition, tongue piercing heal extremely quickly, and if you opt to remove completely, the tongue will return to normal fast, without any tell-tale signs that you once had a piercing. Does this makes you want to get your personal pierce on your own? Then you should check our buying guide.
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