When you look in the mirror you will notice that the bar is angled so that the top ball is further back than the bottom ball. this is so that the bar doesn't rub against your gums and cause ulcers or blisters. You will also notice that the bar angles slightly sideways. The top ball will lie as close to the centre of your tongue as possible, with the bottom ball slightly off to one side of the frenulum. This is because piercing through the frenulum could cause very severe swelling that could make breathing difficult. You will only notice this sideways angle whilst the bar is long. Once the bar is trimmed it will look and feel central.
There will be a slight stinging sensation on the underside of your tongue for about 5-10 minutes. Once this sensation has stopped the hardest thing will be just getting used to the bar. It takes 2-3 hours to get used to the bar being there and then 2-3 days to get used to eating and talking properly.
Your tongue is likely to swell by about 6-12mm for around 2 to 7 days, although some people have reported no swelling at all. During this time any discomfort can be relieved with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen. Cooling the tongue with ice also helps. The swelling will get worse if you get dehydrated so be really careful when drinking or taking drugs.
It can be a little awkward to eat whilst your tongue is swollen so we would suggest that you eat lots of little snacks instead of one big meal. It helps to take small mouthfulls and hold your head sideways when you eat. It is better to eat the food that you normally would. A liquid diet will do you no good as you won't be getting the nutrition you need to heal the piercing. Do beware during the first few days, though, because acidic and spicy foods can sting.
The shaft of your tongue bar is made out of biomedical plastic. This is by far the best bar to use for tongue piercing because it is flexible, completely body-safe and plaque doesn't stick to it. It also has the added advantage that the balls stay on tight, so no swallowing the bar in the middle of the night like metal bars. You do need some self control, though, because it is possible to chew through the bar or to stretch it so that it eventually goes really thin and snaps. Most people prefer plastic bars because it saves on dentists bills. If you have plastic balls on your bar you will need to be really careful. Plastic balls are acrylic. If you chew on them they could splinter into sharp pieces when they break.
keeping the piercing clean is really easy. Your saliva contains enzymes that kill bacteria and help to heal wounds inside the mouth. All you need to do to help is rinse your mouth with warm salt water after eating and smoking and clean around the top and bottom balls with a dry cotton bud any time it needs it. (When there is a whitish/yellowish goo collecting).
Do not use mouthwash, dettol, TCP or anything but salt water or you could cause problems with healing. You will notice a coating on your tongue and you may suffer with bad breath until a couple of days after the bar has been shortened. There is no point brushing your tongue, as the coating will come back after a few minutes, you will just make it sore.
It is safe to shorten the bar 5 days after the swelling has gone down. This is usually after 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. Call in when you think it's ready and we'll have a look. Don't leave the long bar in for more than 4 weeks without having it checked, as there is a chance you could catch the bar, damaging the piercing or your teeth.
You need to consider your tongue piercing as an open wound for 6 to 8 weeks. As with any open wound there is a direct route into your bloodstream. If you get someone elses body fluids inside the wound you are at risk of catching any disease that they have. If you are in a solid relationship with someone you trust then you are ok kissing etc., but beware of kissing people you don't know.
Problems with tongue piercings are actually quite rare, but need prompt attention. Contact your piercer immediately if you notice any of the following:
You must leave something in the piercing for at least the first 12 to 18 months. If you leave the jewellery out, even for a short period, during this time it will close down or could heal altogether.
You can change the jewellery once the piercing has completely healed and toughened. This usually takes around 2 months for a tongue piercing. If you change your jewellery too soon you could damage the fistula (tunnel of scar tissue) that your body has made. This could lead to infection and swelling.