Your tongue piercing has probably been aching all day. The piercing might have felt tender, sore, and swollen for the past few days, but now it’s even more painful. Why does my tongue piercing hurt when I wake up? If this is your first time getting a tongue piercing, you may be feeling anxious about it hurting again tomorrow. In many cases, the ache and pain the morning after getting a tongue piercing are completely normal. Here are some reasons why:
Why Does My Tongue Piercing Hurt When I Wake Up?
While the eyes are watering, the body is preparing to protect itself from a potential threat. Tears are composed of water, proteins, and enzymes that help remove debris from your eye. The water in tears provides a continuous cycle of cleaning and refreshing your eye. Tears also contain enzymes that help protect your eye from infection and aid in healing. During times of sneezing or coughing, tears flow more freely to protect your eye from irritants.
You’re dehydrated
If you’re dehydrated, your tongue will swell, which can make it feel like your piercing is too short. The piercing is the same length, but the swollen tongue makes it feel like the bar is touching the tissue. Drink plenty of water before getting pierced, and make sure to stay hydrated the next few days. If you’re dehydrated, your piercing will also heal slower, which can cause unnecessary discomfort as the piercing heals. Dehydration can also make your tongue feel swollen, which may make the piercing feel too loose.
The bar is too long
If the bar is too long for your mouth, it will be pinched and irritated, causing you a lot of pain. Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell if the bar is too long before getting the piercing. The best thing you can do is bring a friend with you to the piercing studio. Have them take a look at the bar sizes before deciding on a tongue piercing. If you’re getting a barbell, you can take the bar to a local jeweler to have them cut it to the proper length. The bar is usually too long to cut at the studio, so you’d have to go to a jeweler anyways.
You over-stretched your hole
The mouth heals fast, so the hole can become over-stretched before the new skin is completely healed. This can happen within a week of getting the piercing, and it’s one of the most common reasons why people experience pain after getting their tongue pierced. After a few days of struggling with your piercing, talk to your piercer about the possibility of changing it to a healed retainer.
You ate the wrong foods before bed
The tongue is a muscle that can swell overnight, especially if you eat the wrong foods before bed. Sugary foods are notorious for causing tongue swelling, which can make the piercing feel too long or pinched. You can also make your tongue swell by drinking too much water. Avoid sugary foods and make sure to drink enough water before going to bed with a new tongue piercing.
Your tongue swelled overnight
The tongue can also swell from an allergic reaction, which is rare from a tongue piercing but possible. The swelling may cause the piercing to feel too short or too long, depending on the severity of the swelling. Make sure to bring the piercing kit with you to the doctor so they can diagnose and treat the swelling.
Tongue Piercing Care Is Important?
If you’re going to get a tongue piercing, make sure to visit a professional piercing studio that follows good hygienic practices.
- While you’re there, make sure to ask the staff questions about aftercare to make sure you know what to do to help your piercing heal quickly and safely.
- It’s also a good idea to have your piercing checked by a health care professional within the first few days after getting it done.
- This will make sure your piercing is healing correctly and that there aren’t any signs of complications.
- If you’ve been following the aftercare instructions and your piercing still isn’t healing properly after about three weeks, make an appointment with a doctor.
- You may have an infection that needs to be treated.
Tongue Piercing Irritation & Swelling?
If you’ve been following the proper aftercare instructions and taking care of your tongue piercing, it’s possible that the swelling and irritation you’re experiencing are a normal part of the healing process.
- This can usually be treated by applying a soothing balm or ointment to the area (often referred to as “copper tongue”).
- Some of the most common herbal remedies for tongue piercing irritation and swelling are aloe vera gel, calendula, and chamomile.
- If the swelling lasts for more than a few days, you may have an infection in your piercing.
- You can check on this by checking the piercing site for signs of redness, swelling, and foul-smelling discharge.
- If you see any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor right away.
Tongue Piercing Domestic Violence?
For some people, getting a tongue piercing is a form of self-care. This can be especially important for people who have suffered from domestic abuse or other types of trauma.
- This type of piercing is common among people who were sexually abused as children.
- While a tongue piercing doesn’t erase the pain or trauma of the past, it can be a helpful way to reclaim control over one’s body and reclaim a sense of self-worth.
- A tongue piercing can help people who have experienced abuse feel empowered by their own bodies again.
- The piercing takes place in the mouth, a place where the abuser has control.
- By getting a tongue piercing, you can take back control and show the abuser that you’re no longer afraid.
Painful Side Effects Of Tongue Piercings
Tongue piercings are one of the most intense and painful body modification procedures out there, and they have a tendency to leave you with some painful side effects.
- Bleeding: If you are not careful with cleaning, blood may appear in your saliva. This can be normal if you are not careful. Swelling: Your tongue may swell as a response to the piercing. This is normal and will go away.
- Discomfort: You can expect to experience some pain and discomfort after your piercing.
- Eating: Eating can be difficult for the first few days. It can be hard to swallow and may be painful. You should eat soft foods that are easy to swallow.
- Keep hydrated: You may experience dry mouth as a side effect of the pain medication. Maintain proper hygiene: It can be difficult to maintain proper hygiene as a result of your piercing.
How To Solve These Issues?
If any of the above-mentioned side effects become a problem, there are a few ways to solve them.
- First, it is important to keep your piercing clean so that you minimize the risk of infection.
- This can be done by using a saline solution and a sterile product. Moreover, it is important to take pain medication as directed.
- It can help you eat properly and keep hydrated.
- Finally, you can use a humidifier to keep your mouth moist. You can try to alleviate the pain as well with a combination of these things!
Conclusion
Getting a tongue piercing can be a fun, exciting experience. Just make sure to do your research and visit a specialized piercing studio, where you’ll be properly sanitized and cared for. If you’ve been following proper aftercare and your piercing is still healing after a few weeks, you may be experiencing normal tongue piercing healing. If your piercing is still painful, swollen, or infected after a few weeks, make sure to visit your doctor.
