Treatment for Tongue Ring Infections

Shortly after undergoing an oral piercing, a patient sometimes experiences slight swelling, discomfort and discoloration, all of which are normal symptoms and should decrease within several weeks. An oral infection, however, often results in severe swelling, pain and redness, and the area surrounding the piercing is often hot to the touch. Experts advise patients to rinse with saline solutions and antibacterial mouth washes after each meal and before bed for four weeks after the piercing, or until discoloration and discomfort go away.

Features

• During the first five days after receiving an oral piercing, patients can experience severe swelling, light bleeding, possible bruising, tenderness and overall discomfort. Discoloration can also occur, resulting in red, brown, pink, or purple bruises. In the following week, the patient might experience some swelling and a light secretion of a yellow fluid (this, however, is not pus). Because piercings heal from the outside first, the piercing can appear fully healed before it is, so it is important for patients to continue using a saline solution for up to one month after the piercing. This procedure helps to ensure a smooth and clean heal.

Infection Symptoms

• A patient can suffer from an infected piercing if the piercing exudes a thick, green and malodorous pus. Additional indicators of infection include severe swelling, pain and discomfort around the piercing and redness. If the area surrounding the infection is also warm or hot to the touch, it is possible the piercing has become infected, and medical treatment should be sought. A physician is likely to prescribe oral or topical antibiotics, which should be used in conjunction with increased saline rinses.

Prevention/Solution

• After getting an oral piercing, it is important to ensure proper procedures are followed so as to avoid infections. Professionals advise patients to use antimicrobial or antibacterial alcohol-free mouth rinse for 30 seconds after each meal and at bedtime (generally four to five times a day). Additionally, patients can dissolve 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of iodine-free sea salt with one cup of warm water. Patients are advised not to use a stronger solution, because this can irritate the fresh piercing. Patients are also advised not to use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, betadine, hibiclens and/or topical ointments on the piercing, because all of these can result in irritation and inflammation. Generally, patients are advised to follow these precautions for at least four weeks or until irritation and inflammation disappears.

Expert Insight

• Oral piercings might look enticing, but they are a potential source of infection. Jewelry, particularly larger tongue rings, often damage the enamel on teeth and can wear away at the gums. In addition, many patients experience extreme discomfort in the weeks following the piercing, and some are never able to speak normally again. In a 2001 report, the National Institutes of Health determined that oral piercings also increase a patient's chance of contracting disease. In a 2001 report published by the "Journal of the American Dental Association," it was confirmed that swelling, bleeding and heart disease have been long-term symptoms resulting from oral piercings. Experts advise patients to keep a tongue ring in at all times to avoid exposure and infections.

Treatment

• If a patient experiences symptoms of infection, it is essential to make an appointment with a doctor, who might choose to prescribe an anti-inflammatory medicine. To relieve swelling, the patient might be instructed to dissolve small pieces of ice in the mouth or take an over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, including ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Patients are also advised not to play with the piercing and to sleep with the head elevated during the first few nights of treatment. All patients are advised to maintain good hygiene, including mouth washing and rinsing with an anti-bacterial solution. Furthermore, if a patient suspects infection, it is essential to leave jewelry in the piercing to allow for drainage of the infection. If the jewelry is removed, surface cells can close, which will seal the infection in the piercing channel and result in an abscess.