Piercing Information Library

General Advice on Oral Piercing

Procedure:
Before the appointment any facial hair and make-up in the area of the piercing should be removed. Seating is usually in an upright posture. With both tongue and lip piercings, small amounts of saliva can dribble from the mouth. To avoid it getting onto clothing a disposable or washable bib is provided. A mouthwash solution is used to rinse before and after the piercing. The outside skin of the lip, after being cleaned with a medical wipe, will be marked for location. For tongue piercings, the top surface of the tongue should be dried before marking. To ensure that the needle doesn't make contact with the teeth and gums, clamps will be used to hold the tongue or lip in a safe position. Expect some bleeding - the amount varies between individuals and normally stops within a few minutes.

Swelling:
The extent of the swelling varies between individuals and there is no way to determine in advance who will experience most swelling. Generally the worst swelling peaks after three or four days. Placing ice cubes in the mouth and holding them behind the piercing can help keep the swelling under control.

Anaesthetics:
Using anaesthetic on the tongue can be extremely dangerous. The tongue is a muscle and, when anaesthetised, a relaxed tongue can easily move uncontrolled into a position where it blocks the airway. In such a case there would be a serious danger of asphyxiation. Another concern is that an ingredient contained within the anaesthetic might trigger anaphylactic shock.