Infected Tongue Piercing – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Infected Tongue Piercing – Imagine having your mouth pierced and after a few days you don’t want to eat or talk. You may be wondering, if your tongue piercing has an infection or if it’s all in your head.
This health article focuses on infected tongue piercing and will cover all the questions that are asked about infected tongue piercing infections. So if you need advice on what you can do in your situation, read this article.
What are the symptoms of an infected tongue piercing?
Some common signs and symptoms of an infected tongue piercing are:
Swelling
If your tongue is swollen to the point that you have trouble eating or speaking, it could be an infection. Your tongue should not be so swollen that you cannot breathe. If this happens, contact your doctor or hospital immediately.
Tenderness and redness
Look for redness and soreness lasting more than a week, as well as red lines from the piercing. The pain will gradually subside as the tongue hole heals, if it is healthy.
Bleeding
During healing, your tongue may bleed or leak fluids. This is not a cause for concern. However, yellow or green pus is not a sign of health.
Some other common symptoms of an infected tongue piercing include:
- Persistent warmth
- Severe pain
- Excessive bleeding
- Bump at the front or back of the piercing
- Fever
If you experience any of these symptoms after a piercing, see your doctor as soon as possible.
What are the Causes of Infected Tongue Piercing?
Although bacterial infections following tongue piercing are rare and there have been reports of life-threatening infections associated with the procedure.
A tongue piercing infection is caused by the accumulation of harmful microbes in the piercing kit. These microbes cause your body to react with some unpleasant symptoms.
When microorganisms enter the puncture wound then chances of infection is more likely to occur. Because there are so many germs in your mouth, tongue piercings are more prone to infection than other piercings.
Here are four common reasons why people get tongue piercings:
1- Poor Oral Hygiene
Excess bacteria in the mouth is removed by brushing, flossing and mouthwash. So whether you have piercings or not, good oral health is important. This is even more important if you have a tongue piercing, especially if it heals.
Avoiding excessively sugar containing foods and drinks is another way to prevent excess bacteria and inflammation in the mouth.
2- Weak Immune System
You may not know it, but oral health is connected to your entire immune system. If you don’t take care of yourself, your oral health will suffer. Therefore, you should consume a healthy diet that includes foods rich in vitamin C. A healthy body is better equipped to prevent and fight infections such as tongue infections.
3- Dirty Piercing Conditions
Bacteria can get into your piercing if you get it done in an unsanitary piercing studio. As studies continue to study and implement better methods for sterilizing instruments and preventing infection, this is becoming less common.
4- Touch Of The Tongue
If you touch your tongue with dirty hands, you transfer bacteria directly to the piercing and risk getting sick. Therefore, you should avoid touching it at all costs.
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How can you Prevent Tongue Piercing Infections?
According to the American Dental Association, to avoid infection after a tongue piercing, you should do the following:
Use a mouthwash or mouthwash solution:
To reduce the risk of infection for several days to weeks after a tongue piercing, wash the piercing area with mouthwash. During and after the healing phase, rinse your mouth regularly with an alcohol-free mouthwash.
Be careful while eating
Using your fingers, place the food directly on the molar to chew, so that the food does not come into contact with the piercing while it heals. Wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before putting them in your mouth.
Use a soft toothbrush
Using a new toothbrush after a piercing helps prevent new bacteria from entering your mouth. After a tongue piercing, the ideal toothbrush to use is a toothbrush with soft bristles that can get into hard-to-reach areas without damaging the area.
By following these precautions, you can prevent infection at the puncture site.
What is the Treatment of Infected Tongue Piercing?
If you have an infection in the early stages, you can try to treat it at home. Just keep an eye on your symptoms to make sure they don’t get worse.
However, if you have a severe or long-term infection, see your doctor for antibiotic treatment. This will avoid major problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my tongue piercing is infected?
You can identify a tongue piercing infection if your tongue is very swollen, red, sore, discolored, bleeds profusely, or has spots on your tongue. See your doctor as soon as possible after experiencing any of these things.
How long does it take for an infected tongue to heal?
A swollen tongue is usually harmless and will go away on its own within two weeks. In the meantime, you can try some home remedies to ease the pain, such as using cold compresses.
How easy is a tongue piercing to get infected?
Because of the microorganisms in the mouth, tongue piercings, especially fresh ones, are more prone to infection than other piercings. Eating, drinking, and sexual activity can also introduce many microorganisms.