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Eyebrow Helix Lobe Naval Nipple Nostril Tongue
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Tongue piercings require attention to two regimens; oral hygiene and nutrition.
HygieneUse full strength Original (yellow) Listerine mouthwash approximately every 1-1/2 hours. Time your consumption of food and beverages (and cigarettes) to precede a rinse cycle. This way, any residue remaining in your mouth is cleared out, leaving nothing for bacteria to grow between rinses. Avoid over use of the yellow Listerine or you run the risk of chemically burning your tongue. At the end of the first ten days, switch the yellow Listerine to a less aggressive mouthwash like blue or green Listerine.
Continue rinsing with the less aggressive Listerine for another 10 day period. Gradually increase your time between rinsing so that by the end of the last 10 days you are down to just regular hygiene. This means that your rinsing is timed at every 1-1/2 hours for a couple of days, then every 2 hours, then every 2 ½ hours, and so on. This is to ease the aggressive rinsing and to manage a controlled return of the normal ecology in your mouth. Failure to abate the rinsing could result in the development of Thrush, an overgrowth infection of Candida albicans (Candidiasis). Green and blue Listerine have often been touted as being as effective as the original yellow formula, and indeed they contain the same active ingredients in the same quantities. However, to make the newer varieties more palatable, the makers have added a non-medicinal ingredient called sorbitol, a sugar substitute (safe for diabetics because it can be metabolized without producing blood glucose). Sorbitol will act as a carbon source and will support bacterial growth, which defeats the purpose of using the mouthwash during the first 10 day period. We have seen too many clients who tried to use the better flavoured varieties of Listerine during the first ten days who came back to us with infected tongues within the first week. The yellow Listerine works, and should be used during the initial period after the piercing.
NutritionNutrition is important for the healing of any piercing. One of the symptoms of mild malnutrition is a swollen tongue. Your newly pierced tongue will remain swollen, and healing of the piercing will be retarded until an adequate, balanced diet is re-established.
Eat soft food for the first day only. Take the time to get used to the new pierce of metal in your mouth. From the second day on, eat solid foods. If larger pierces prove difficult to eat, take smaller bites. Try a stir fry.
SwellingAny muscle tissue which has been injured will swell, and your tongue is no exception. Swelling following your tongue piercing can be significant, making eating and talking difficult. Peak swelling usually occurs between 48 to 72 hours following your piercing, and will abate after that time. In some cases the swelling will persist longer, but we have generally found that poor consumption of alcohol, or an underlying medical condition (anemia, diabetes, current infection) is contributing.
Do not consume alcohol after a tongue piercing! During the first 72 hours, consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol can be dangerous. If your tongue is re-injured and starts to bleed, high blood alcohol can result in poor clotting, and the excessive bleeding can cause enough swelling to occlude the airway. Strangulation could result if extraordinary measures are not taken to keep the airway clear. On the first day, keep your tongue as cold as possible for as long as possible. This reduces the circulation in the tongue and lessens the amount of bleeding into the tissues around your piercing. The less bleeding, the less swelling you will experience. The same principle applies when an ice pack is used on a charley horse. A good method for you to use is freezies or popsicle (or an ice cube for the unflavoured afficionado). After the first day, cold may feel good on your tongue, but on the first day it will actually be beneficial. Extra Strength Midol will reduce muscle inflamation. This product was designed to ease menstrual cramping, and we have found it to be very effective reducing swelling of your tongue. |
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After the swelling has disappeared, your tongue piercing should be measured for a shorter, fitted shaft. This will make your jewelry much more comfortable, and is recommended to reduce the risk of damage to your teeth. We have also noted that a shorter shaft is less likely to cause later injury to your tongue. Fancy balls or head pieces for the jewelry can be obtained at this time. Make sure that the minimum of a 12 gauge shaft be respected to reduce tongue injury and jewelry migration |
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