Tongue

Please follow the aftercare instructions per verbatim

• A new piercing will excrete plasma, and that plasma will dry up on the outside of the piercing around the entry and exit wounds, as well as on the jewelry.
• If this material is not gently removed daily, no more, it will become nectrotic and irritate the wound.
• Aftercare is meant to clear this tissue and give your body a chance to heal.

YOUR NEW TONGUE PIERCING:

By choosing Tommy T’s you can be assured your piercing has been performed appropriately, and that the very highest standards of technique and sterilization have been used.  In order to ensure that your new piercing heals quickly and without complications, an appropriate aftercare regimen must be followed.

All of our suggestions are made based on our experience and research, and also on that of other professionals in the piercing industry.  Since you have already trusted us to perform your piercing, please follow through and trust in our judgment regarding care of your new adornment.  What follows is a general outline of information regarding a new piercing.  For more detailed information please do not hesitate to contact us.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Your piercing…

• May be slightly swollen, bruised, and tender for a few weeks
• May bleed slightly
• Will typically show a small amount of redness while healing.
• Will typically have a slight discharge, whitish-yellow in color, which can form a crust on the jewelry.  These “crusties” are the body’s waste material generated from the healing process.

WHAT ABOUT INFECTION?

An infection is caused by contact with bacteria, fungi, or other similar living pathogens.  The chances of your piercing becoming infected are very minimal if appropriate precautions are taken.

Most piercing infections are a direct result of:

• Touching the piercing or jewelry with unwashed hands; yours or someone else’s
• Oral contact with the piercing
• Contact with other people’s bodily fluids during healing period

SIGNS OF INFECTION:

Although these signs may indicate other problems, common signs of an infection are:

• Severe redness, red streaks going from the piercing toward the heart
• Swelling or hardness around the piercing
• Tenderness, or pain, particularly throbbing pain
• Warm to the touch
• Thick discharge: yellow or green in color
• Purulent drainage
• Sweating, fever,  or raised temperature

WHAT IF I SUSPECT AN INFECTION?

• Do not remove the jewelry!  Doing so can create an even larger problem by trapping matter inside the piercing, and closing off access to the infected areas.
• If you have any sign of infection, please come into our shop or consult your physician
• If you have anything that seems abnormal please call us or come into our shop immediately
• An infection in a piercing can lead to more serious complication if left untreated.

WHAT ABOUT REJECTION?

Not every piercing can be healed successfully.  Variations in anatomy, physiology and environment cannot always be predetermined.  All piercings have the potential to reject (migrate, grow out, etc.), although some are more likely to do so than others.  When a piercing rejects, the jewelry may appear to be moving towards the surface, or the piercing may be shallower and shallower.  The piercing site may be red, and a clear discharge may be present.  Pain is generally not associated with rejection of a piercing.  If you are concerned about rejection, we suggest letting your piercer examine the piercing.

WHAT ELSE HELPS AN TONGUE PIERCING HEAL?

• Generally speaking, leave your piercing alone.  The more friction, movement, or contact a piercing experiences, the more likely the chances are that a problem will occur.
• Appropriate jewelry selection is extremely important.  All jewelry should be custom sized for each individual.  Jewelry should be at lease 18 gauge, internally threaded, be of the appropriate style for the piercing and should be made of an acceptable implant-grade material.
• Many places now sell body jewelry.  Always take caution when buying body jewelry, as it may not be sized correctly or made of an appropriate material for your piercing.
• Eating a healthy and nutritious diet is crucial.  The general health of your body is an important factor in the length of time it will take your piercing to heal.
• Avoid over-cleansing, or the use of inappropriate substances or cleansers.  Products such as antibiotic ointments, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, Bactine, or ear care-type antiseptics typically do more harm than good to a healing piercing.
• Changing the jewelry too soon (before 3-4 months, except in a ‘troubleshooting’ context) or wearing inappropriate jewelry can lead to complications.  Remember that every person’s piercing is different.
• Use water permeable bandage, such as Tegaderm or Polyskin for the first 3 months when swimming in a pool, hot tub, ocean, or when soaking in the bathtub.

MOST IMPORTANTLY:

Nobody can predict the future…if you have a problem, or a question arises regarding your piercing, feel free to contact us at any time.  This brief overview of post-piercing information may not cover a particular concern that you may have.  For this reason, we are always available for individual consultation and happy to answer any additional questions you may have.

PLEASE NOTE:

Any suggestions or comments made regarding your aftercare, whether given verbally or printed, are not to be mistaken for, construed as, or substituted for, medical advice.

HEALING TIMES:

Healing times can vary greatly, depending upon several factors, including initial jewelry style and gauge.  Although everyone heals at a different rate, average healing times

This is the amount of time your piercing should be considered new, healing tissue and treated as such.

CLEANING YOUR NEW PIERCING: 

ALWAYS Wash Your Hands Before Touching Your Piercing While It Is Healing!  Touching Your Piercing With Dirty Hands Can Result In An Infection.

Soaking:

Performing a sea salt soak once a day has been shown to facilitate healing and reduce the “crusties”.  Do this the opposite end of the day that you take your shower.

• Pour 1/3 ounce Mr. T’s into medicine cup.
• Form a seal, or vacuum, with the edge of the medicine cup.
• Use cotton balls to soak when Medicine cup will not do.
• Soak for a minimum 5 minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes.
• Dip q-tip into sea salt soak solution. Gently wipe the piercing and the jewelry removing any particles.

This is a 2 step process.

• Soak the wound
• Wipe away the particles
• Follow the instructions included with Mr. T’s Sea Salt Soak.

Note:

Mr. T’s is all natural.

It is sterilized and filtered

It is ph balanced

It has no additives

Mr. T’s will help you heal twice as fast as normal. By soaking the wound with Sea salt water the body will push out any infection. This also starts blood production in your body thus helping your skin cells grow faster. By soaking and wiping away the exterior of the wound you are removing the particles that contribute to infection. Be sure to follow all of the other suggestions on this aftercare sheet.

1. Use medicine  cup or cotton balls to soak
2. Use q-tips to wipe
3. Between the ball and post must be spotless

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR TONGUE PIERCINGS:

• The tongue will begin to swell within the first 12 hours.  Swelling can be kept to a minimum through the use of ice, slushies, shakes, ice cream & cold water.  Avoid chewing or sucking on ice – let it melt in your mouth.
• Expect slight bleeding for the first few days.
• Avoid drinking straws and chewing gum for at least 2 weeks.
• Wet kissing must be avoided for 4-6 weeks.  Oral sex should be avoided for at least 3 months, unless some kind of barrier is used.
• Eat softer foods for the first few days.  Avoid foods that are hard, crunchy, spicy, or salty.  Avoid carbonated beverages & highly acidic fruit juices.
• Avoid or reduce consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco for the first week in order to minimize irritation.
• Chew food very slowly, taking time to realize what is your jewelry & what is food.
• DO NOT play with your piercing while it is healing!  Doing so can make it swell more, bleed, or even tear.  This will lengthen your healing time.
• You may develop a white ring of tissue around the piercing during the healing period.  This is normal.  A whitish discharge coming from the piercing should cause you no alarm.
• It is important to check the ends of the jewelry for tightness several times daily, especially before and after you eat, before and after brushing your teeth, before you go to bed and when you wake up.  Natural movement will cause friction and the balls can unscrew.
• Always remember to wash your hands first with an antibacterial soap.  Right is tight and left is loose!  If you lose a ball, we always have them in stock and they are for sale.  If you are unable to pick one up right away, although it sounds weird, we have found clean eraser tops off of a pencil work great for a temporary fix.
• Do not ever use pliers or any home tools on your jewelry as you may scratch and damage the jewelry.
• Retainers are also available should you need to hide your piercing or if you’re having an MRI or surgery.  Retainers are only be worn in tongue piercings that are a minimum of 2 weeks old.
• Direct contact with the piercing should be gentle, with clean hands only.
• Avoid submerging the piercing in unhygienic bodies of water, such as: lakes, pools, hot tubs, baths, etc.
• Avoid activities that could affect the piercing, such as: gardening, contact with animals, or recreational water activities.
• If you do these activities during the healing time of the piercing, protect your piercing using a waterproof wound-sealant bandage-these are available at most drugstores.

DOWNSIZING

• The length of the jewelry installed in your new tongue piercing is initially longer to allow for swelling that typically occurs.  Once the tongue has returned to its normal thickness, usually 2-4 weeks, we suggest that the shaft of the jewelry be downsized (changed) to a length suitably sized to the thickness of your tongue.
• Failure to shorten the jewelry length may increase any risks of dental damage which may be involved with oral piercings.  These risks may include, but are not limited to: chipped or broken teeth, gum/tissue damage or loss, and/or excessive scar tissue at the site of the piercing.
• Downsizing the jewelry may help prevent these risks, but there is no guarantee against them.
• We have acrylic balls (dental plastic) available for purchase when you downsize.  Acrylic balls help to protect your teeth better than the steel balls you were initially pierced with, however, they do need to be replaced every 3 months due to wear.