Tongue Rings

The fascinating origin on the use of a tongue ring can be largely credited to the traditional rituals made by the Aztecs and the Maya. Historical archives revealed that ancient priests often pierce their tongue to draw blood from it by passing a rough cord to effectively inflict pain as part of their religious practices. However, in the contemporary world, the concept of tongue piercing and tongue rings created quite a stir all over the world with its resurgence as an eye catching fashion statement for people who have no qualms about testing their very limits and pushing past the envelope of pain. Which explains why if you are looking through some racks of jewelry items, necklaces and rings are often displayed right alongside with the straight barbell style tongue rings that are unarguably the popular choice today.

The Jewelry

Normally a tongue piercing would usually take at least four to six weeks to heal and the aftercare procedure of getting tongue rings is actually more complicated than any other piercing methods. Due to the quantity of movement that is usually involved with the use of the tongue such as eating, speech and even kissing, the size of the tongue rings should be given importance and proper consideration. Barbell designs that are too thin can often trigger migration and can cause too much discomfort and possible irritations. While the round part at the end of the barbell is basically designed with some decorative material, the environment of the mouth can often cause some discoloration and cracking. This makes it quite important to simply choose a nontoxic metal rather than plastic or other options out there to ensure safety and longevity.

For people who simply want to make their rings as unobtrusive as much as possible, the “no-see-um-beads” presents are perfect choice since it is hardly seen with its flat design with a color that mimics the color of the tongue. Another rather unorthodox option available is the use of the captive bead ring that are usually attached to the tip of the tongue, which is of course quite riveting to see. However, the problem with this technique is its tendency to damage the teeth and gums as well as cause major discomfort.

Risks

One of the minor dangers of a tongue ring is the possibility of bleeding, when a blood vessel is hit. However, this can be avoided by only contacting a qualified piercer who can deftly avoid major veins. One of the most common misconceptions is the claim that since the mouth is basically dirty with a introduction of food that may carry bacteria, tongue piercing may trigger some serious infections. While the claim on the human mouth may be true to some extent, the saliva is a highly effective element that can easily deflect infections and actually promotes healing. This explains why some other body piercing may take a year or so to heal, the tongue pierce will only take about several weeks at most.

As the piercing heals, it will have the tendency to be a little crooked, which can be largely attributed to the frenulum placement in the center of the tongue. However, this is hardly noticeable by anyone but the owner. Another important factor to consider before getting your tongue pierced is the all too real possibility of teeth and gum damage, especially with improper placement. The chipping of the teeth or the erosion of the gum can be largely increased with the excessive impact of the ring metal against the teeth and can cause some undetectable micro fractures in the enamels of the teeth.

So if you are dead set on getting that tongue ring and sporting that funky new accessory, be sure to take all the necessary precautions and know the possible consequences to avoid facing the dire consequences.