Detailed Guide to Tongue Web Piercing – What You Should Know

A tongue web piercing is a gentle piercing done to the frenulum, which is the flap tissue of the tongue connecting the floor of the mouth with the tongue. It’s also referred to as frenulum linguae piercing. 

This kind of piercing has been the subject of controversy and is gaining popularity due to its place of placement. It is ideal if you’re looking for a piercing that’s unnoticed or easy to cover! Are you unsure about the procedure? 

This article will explain what it is, the piercing method, the time it takes to heal, and much more. 

Read on!

What Is a Tongue Web Piercing?

Web piercing on the tongue, commonly called tongue frenulum, is done right on the connective layers that join the tongue with the gum plate below. The layers appear like webs, which makes the frenulum-linguae stand out from other types. 

The lining of the frenulum is a crucial part of oral anatomy since it allows us to talk. Because of its place, tongue web piercing is concealed, and many believe that it helps those who wear the device become more cautious when they speak.

Debunking Myths: The Misconceptions People Have

When a subject is veiled in mysteries, misinformation and myths thrive. Tongue web piercing is no exception. Let’s address some common misconceptions about this distinctive body art.

Initially, people thought a tongue piercing could alter their eating or speech habits. Although any new feature in your mouth will likely require some time to get used to it, the tongue web piercings are located in a way that does not interfere with these essential tasks. 

Due to its discrete location, many people are unaware it’s in their mouths after a few days.

Another popular myth is that piercing can be extremely painful. This will be addressed more precisely in a subsequent article, but let’s put the facts straight: people’s tolerance to pain is different, and what may be painful for one person could be easy for another. 

The key to success is being prepared and knowing your threshold for pain.

There’s also the notion the piercings of tongue webs can be susceptible to infections. It’s far from the fact! If you follow the appropriate hygiene guidelines, the piercing will not be at risk of infection more than others. Your mouth’s natural antibacterial properties could serve as a defense.

It is also possible to hear people warn that piercings could harm your gums or teeth. What’s the truth? There’s not enough evidence from science to back the claims. 

A study published in The Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeons found that piercings of the mouth didn’t significantly correlate with an increased risk of developing dental problems compared to patients who didn’t have perforations.

Finally, we must not overlook the stereotypes of society that accompany every type of body alteration. The old belief that the piercings of a person constitute “unprofessional” or “rebellious” is slowly dissolving, particularly since they are becoming more popular and accepted in the social sphere.

Now that we’ve cleared some air let’s examine the advantages and disadvantages of piercing your tongue. Let’s get started, shall we?

Pros And Cons of A Tongue Web Piercing

The delicate position of piercings on the tongue makes them beneficial and detrimental. Below are a few of the benefits and disadvantages of dental frenulum piercing.

Pros

• You can conceal it, flaunting it only if you wish to.
• The piercing lets you wear a variety of different jewelry.
• It’s not as painful as the other body piercings.

Cons

• The piercing could become infected, and you could suffer pain, swelling, and leaking pus and blood.
• Jewelry placed under the tongue could cause pain and discomfort as it rubs on the tongue’s surface and the floor of the mouth.
• Contrary to body piercings, the tissue’s thickness, and the tongue’s constant movements can increase the possibility of rejection of the tongue piercing’s web, which could lead to scar tissue formation.
• Because of the piercing’s location, continuous pressure is imposed on it. This could cause the piercings to shift and expand.
• It’s a tough surface to grip and thread jewelry, resulting in the risk of failure threadings and challenging jewelry changes.
• This could lead to an injury to the frenulum.
• The type of jewelry you wear with your piercing will prevent tugging and reduce the healing time. The following subheading offers some suggestions for jewelry.

Procedure For A Tongue Web Piercing

Before piercing your frenulum, the piercer will determine if it is feasible for you. The piercer checks how thick the tissues are to ensure the needle can traverse them without problems. 

The thin web of the tongue is more likely to break after cutting. In this case, the piercer could suggest against the piercing or even not do it if they think this could be the case for you.

However, if you can proceed, you must choose the first piece of piercing jewelry. You must thoroughly wash your mouth before you can get the piercing done. 

The piercer will run a sterilized hollow needle across the webbing to make an opening and attach the necklace.

The whole process should take approximately 30 minutes. The piercing procedure does not take a long time; however, reviewing the anatomy of your tongue, selecting jewelry, and filling in the information might require some time.

Do you have any ideas?

The piercing gauge used for the piercing hole for the tongue web is typically either 14 or 16.

If you have an experienced piercer and a proper technique for piercing, the pain can be controlled. However, it could be different for every person. 

No Specialized Jewellery For Tongue Web Piercing

Although there isn’t any specialized tongue web piercing jewelry designed specifically for the tongue frenulum piercing that has been developed to be sold on the market, many body jewelry options are suitable for this area. 

The first type of jewelry commonly employed for the web piercing of the tongue is 16 gauge small (usually six to eight millimeters or longer) bent barbells (such as those you get with a pair of eyebrow rings) or circular rings (such as BCRs). 

Other options that have been used include horseshoe barbells in circular form and bell rings that are curved. 

Due to the natural curvature of this region, curved jewelry will work better than straight jewelry (though keep in mind that the body and you are unique; therefore, testing and error is the best method to determine the type of body jewelry that’s suitable for your body piercing).

Pro-Piercing Tip: If you’re contemplating having your tongue’s frenulum pierced, ensure you’ve got enough under your tongue to be able to get it! 

Talk to your professional piercer to ensure you have enough tissue for the tongue web piercing option.

What to Expect From a Tongue Web Piercing

The membrane comprises only a tiny amount of tissue, making it one of the least painful needle piercings. Most people believe that the clamp is less painful than the actual needle it’s piercing through. 

A few risks are associated with piercing the frenulum because it could cause irritation to the gums over time and lead to gum recession. If you notice that your gums are changing, getting rid of the piercing is essential. Also, when you feel it touching your teeth, it could cause damage to enamel. 

Engaging in jewelry play frequently can lead to similar problems. This is also true if you observe your jewelry moving around, as it could be pulled out accidentally and broken. 

Because of the risks involved, it is not a piercing normally kept for a long period, and it is not recommended to be performed by anyone other than an experienced piercer.

What is the Healing Time for a Tongue Web Piercing?

The healing process for these piercings takes 1-2 months. You can typically switch your jewelry within 1 month for an enlarging barbell or alternative piece. However, always be on guard and avoid changing your jewelry if it has not felt healed for at least 2 months.

To heal, rinse your mouth with salt water. Soaking your piercing in water is unnecessary, and you can also use mouthwash; however, it’s best to use something like Biotene that doesn’t contain alcohol. 

However, it will remove any food particles and bacteria that might have been caught. It is crucial not to use too much mouthwash, and if you notice a mild discoloration in the piercing area, stop or reduce it. It is essential to use an alcohol-free mouthwash since it could irritate your piercing and damage the healing process.

If you suspect the piercings on your frenulum could be infected, remove the jewelry and consult an expert piercer immediately to prevent complications.

Risks

The jewelry could come into contact with the teeth and gums; in time, it can damage enamel and cause gum tissue degeneration. 

A piercing that is not properly placed can harm the salivary gland, and, like other piercings placed in the mouth area, an item that can be opened might be swallowed by accident. There is also the risk that the body will disregard the jewelry and eventually become a part of the body.

How To Clean A Tongue Web Piercing

In addition to taking all the required precautions to ensure a proper healing process, you must also maintain the cleanliness of your piercing. 

Cleaning your piercing can ensure that harmful bacteria are absent from the piercing site, reducing the possibility of infection. 

Rinse your mouth after eating with a non-alcoholic, antiseptic mouthwash to keep food particles from getting caught within your healing fistula. 

In addition, you can rinse your mouth twice daily with a saline solution or DIY sea salt mixture to cleanse the piercing. We have listed a few easy steps to follow to achieve this as easily as possible.

What You Need

• Water
• Sea salt
• Cup

Procedure

1. Cook tap water to boil for five minutes, and then add one teaspoon of sea salt.
2. Transfer the salt water to an oven-proof cup and cool to ambient temperature.
3. Make a mouthful of saliva and swish it around in the mouth for at least 30 seconds.
4. Repeat until you’ve consumed all the water from the cup.
5. Repeat it two times a day.

This one has advantages and disadvantages; everybody is piercing the same way. The next section explains them.

Pain Level of A Tongue Web Piercing

The tongue web has smaller nerve endings than other body sites for piercing. It is less painful than the piercings of cartilage and facial piercings, and the pain is three on an x10 scale. However, it could differ for each person. 

The pain level experienced when piercing their tongue largely depends on the pain tolerance of the piercing individual, the experience of the person performing the technique, and the nature of their tongue’s anatomy.

The initial pain associated with the piercing is smaller than the discomfort you might feel during the healing. However, it will be lessened by letting the piercing heal properly. In the next section, we will examine the healing process for this kind of piercing.

Who Can Get a Frenulum Piercing?

It is possible to get a frenulum piercing so long as you have sufficient tissue. In contrast to the Labial (lip) Frenum-piercings, this one isn’t a danger to your teeth or gums; however, it could rub against the base of your tongue and the oral floor, irritating you. 

It’s almost impossible not to “play” with foreign objects inside your mouth; the tugging and pulling on the piercings by your tongue could cause it pain. Fighting the urge to play around with the object during the first few weeks is important.

Revoking the Piercing: What Happens if You Change Your Mind?

What happens if you awake one day and realize that the piercing of your tongue isn’t your thing anymore? What do you have to do?

The positive side is that getting rid of a tongue piercing is much less complicated than finding one. You can return to a professional piercer for removal or take it yourself, but be sure you adhere to hygienic practices and follow the instructions. YouTube does not provide the right place to get information on this. Talk to your expert piercer!

Most tongue web piercings heal quickly after removal, usually within a few days or weeks. But the duration it takes for the opening to close may vary depending on the length of time it has taken you to heal and the healing process you’re going through.

If you’re worried about the scarring effect or the long-term consequences, be assured that you’re in good hands. The web of your tongue generally heals with little scarring, particularly when compared with other body perforations.

After you’ve removed your piercing, you may be able to miss it more than you would have. That’s natural. The aesthetic and emotional satisfaction you gain could create a gap, which is fine to acknowledge.

If you’re unsure, an in-person removal may be a great option to test the waters. However, the procedure could be more complete than you expect, so be prepared to have it re-pierced should you decide to change your mind.

Why Do Most Piercers Say No To Lingual Frenulum Piercing

The tongue web, also known as the lingual frenulum piercing, is part of a group of perforations that most piercers would never perform. They do not accept them for various reasons.

It rests on the tongue and is the thin layer of skin that can barely hold the weight of the piece. If your tongue rests upon it, it creates irritation and pressure and warps the perforation. This can cause hearing and migration in the fistula healing, resulting in an unnatural hole. 

With time, the migration pattern will result in the jewelry leaving the lingual frenulum. This can leave scar tissue and permanently harm your region.

When Should You See A Doctor?

You need to consult an expert in some instances. These include:

• You may be noticing the child struggling with breastfeeding
• Struggling with everyday tasks like eating or speaking could be due to tongue tie
• Suffering from persistent pain in the lingual frenulum, it is unclear why it occurs.
• Developing sores that are big or recurring
• Experiencing an unidentified lump or bump that doesn’t disappear
• Having huge tears in the lingual frenulum or bleeding profusely from a tear
• You have a piercing on the lingual frenulum, which may be affected by infection

Last Thoughts

Through the thin skin layer that connects the tongue with the floor of the mouth, tongue web piercing has become extremely popular because of its minimal pain, quick healing time, and incredibly discreet piercing. 

Because it’s hidden beneath the tongue, tongue webs are only observed when the wearer wishes them to be noticed. Tongue webs are usually punctured using curved barbells, but once healed, some may switch to smooth horseshoe, ring, or ball closure rings.