Professional piercers insert barbells that are long to prevent your jewelry from embedding into your tongue from swelling during the healing period. After your tongue piercing heals, you can change your jewelry to fit inside your mouth more comfortably, according to Infinite Body Piercing. When changing your tongue ring, cleanliness and appropriate jewelry are important to eliminate the risk of bacterial infections or allergic reactions in your tongue piercing. Purchasing tongue jewelry from a professional piercing shop can ensure that you have the correct gauge and length for your piercing, as well as appropriate metal for inside your mouth.
Step 1
Rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash. Wash your hands with warm water and a liquid soap. Dry your hands with a paper towel and dispose of the paper towel.
Step 2
Stick your tongue out of your mouth. Place a pair of fresh gloves on your hands. Dry the top and bottom of your tongue with a paper towel. Saliva can cause your hands to slip off of the barbell while changing your tongue ring.
Step 3
Grip the bottom of your tongue barbell with your left hand. Hold the bottom bead and the shaft of the tongue barbell on the underside of your tongue. Twist the top bead of your tongue barbell counterclockwise with your right hand.
Step 4
Turn the top bead of your tongue ring until the threads are visible and the bead leaves the shaft of the barbell. Pull the bottom of the tongue barbell down and out towards your lower lip to remove the shaft.
Step 5
Remove the top bead from your new tongue jewelry. Insert the shaft into the bottom hole of your tongue piercing. Push the shaft up until the shaft is visible through the top hole of your tongue piercing. Insert the threads of the top bead into the shaft. Turn the top bead clockwise until the threads are not visible.
Tips and Warnings
- Washing your hands and wearing clean gloves is the cleanest and safest way to change your tongue jewelry. Swallow before changing your tongue jewelry to prevent repeating the drying off process of your tongue.
- Ask your piercer if your tongue piercing is healed before attempting to change your own jewelry.
Things You'll Need
- Alcohol free mouthwash
- Liquid soap
- Water
- Paper towels
- Gloves
- Tongue barbell
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