Tongue piercings normally take 6 to 8 weeks to heal. Unfortunately, some people experience infections due to various reasons during the healing process. This could be improper care, to using tongue stud jewelry that is low in quality. To deal with the infection well, you need to identify it in a timely manner and know to treat it.
Signs of an infection
- Severe swelling
- Elevating pain
- Redness around pierced area
- Severe fever
- Yellow discharge
When you notice these symptoms, you need to treat them right away. Consider the following to make sure that you heal properly.
- Cleansing the area – To clean the infected area, use a saline solution before using any other type of treatment or medication. Fill a needleless syringe with the saline solution and aim it at the infected area for effective cleaning. You can also rinse your mouth by gargling with mouthwash.
- Reducing the swelling – Your tongue may swell if the piercing location is infected. Because of swelling, the tongue stud jewelry may feel tight and uncomfortable. To reduce the swelling, suck an ice chip. It reduces the flow of blood to the infected area, which eventually reduces the swelling.
- Compressing affected area – This method helps to reach tissues around the infected area. Soak a cotton ball in saline solution and compress the area. This helps to kill germs around the area and it increases the supply of blood to the area which speeds up the healing process.
- Antibiotics – If your symptoms are accompanied by chills and fever, take antibiotics and pain medication.
- See a doctor – Visit a doctor if you notice severe swelling and redness, continuous pus discharge and bleeding, or elevated pain and fever.
Our specialists at Body jewelry offer guidance on how to care for your piercing to prevent infections and how to care for it in case you get an infection.
