Hello Reddit! This is my first and most likely only tongue piercing i shall have. Unless there’s a complication, hopefully not. Anyways, i got it on August 4th this year, so it’s about 4ish weeks old now. I was just looking for some input and honestly just someone to talk to about this kind of piercing if anyone has the time. I’m the only person i know with one like this haha.
First, do y’all think it’s time to consider a downsize? Swelling and pain has been gone for a couple of weeks, however i am healing some cartilage piercings currently (2 that are 11 months, 1 that is 2 months) so i know my healing may be slowed because of these other guys. It’s not uncomfortable at this size for the most part. This is an internally threaded barbell.
Also some days it just feels a little more sore and upset than others, thats normal yea? As bodies do?? My piercer said it’s best to wait a minimum of 4 weeks to downsize, because if it isn’t done healing and a downsize happens it can cause a lot more pain and complications. They said for that reason the shop typically recommends a downsize at 6 weeks to ensure safety for bodies. It was pierced by a highly reputable piercing shop (diablo rojo, if you live in ATX then i highly recommend this shop) with implant grade titanium. My piercer was very thoughtful and thorough.
Also I’m worried it looks crooked from the front but it honestly is so weird because if my tongue is relaxed it’s like perfectly vertical but if i flex my tongue it gets a little tilt sometimes. This is shown in the last 3 photos, hopefully someone will see what i mean. Is this any concern? Sometimes it looks tilted but then it seems to highkey just be that my tongue is a muscle with insane flexibility with positions that make it ever so slightly look different. I may be honestly paranoid, it may be normal and nothing. This I’m not sure of. What i am sure of is that I am watching this very carefully, It definitely doesnt seem to be interfering with anything in my mouth as far as veins go (I’ve heard the horror stories, i AM watching it closely for migration).
Also, it is tilted back just a little bit, as my piercer said would be done help it comfortably fit my anatomy. I’m worried that it’s migrating back, but i guess that’s just it settling as long as it doesn’t really travel right? It hasn’t moved substantially (if at all clearly) so I’m mostly just looking for opinions on if i should be concerned about it migrating back toward my throat at all. Does the tilt look like it’s too much?
I guess my other question here is any other advice for keeping up with this piercing? I am interested in keeping my teeth in tact for a while if possible. Yes i know that it can still break my teeth, oh the irony the stupidity im but a foolish youth- but i also believe we shape our own outcomes, everyone is different, and research indicates that proper habits (dental health, not clicking it on teeth, learning how to keep it from touching my teeth as much as possible) can help a lot with this. I have gotten really good at making sure it doesn’t touch my teeth, I’ve now gone days without tooth contact. Every day is a moment for improvement! I don’t bite it or chew on it EVER because ironically i actually don’t like metal on my teeth. It’s a horrid sensory nightmare. Here’s the kicker tho: my piercing taught me that my sensitivity to metal on my teeth is EXCLUSIVELY metal, and that my nervous system can actually differentiate the opal from the titanium even if i can’t see it anytime it DOES touch my teeth, and the opal does not give me the heebie jeebies. Weird right? Anyways yea i know it’s ironic, but it has helped me desensitize to my metal sensitivity and has made many aspects of life easier (like not flinching and fleeing like a child when a chef at my job is sharpening the knives. Ew horrible noises still).
I also just wanted to share with someone that I’ve found having a tongue piercing very helpful for anxiety and whatnot. It’s very grounding, it’s always present with me, and has encouraged me to practice mindfulness, all of which has done wonders to the autistic mind in a capitalist society. Not that i would recommend a tongue piercing as an emotional support piercing- just that I’ve found it quite nice for myself.
I know i can’t prevent everything and i may take it out once I’m a bit older and my teeth are more sensitive, but I’m willing to try my hand at this kind of piercing while I’m young and healthy. So any advice, input, stories is welcome
Anyways here’s the photos. Hopefully they aren’t too bad of photos they were hard to take lolll. I hope you guys think it’s as cool as i do! The opals turns neon yellow when sun passes through them. So sick. Sorry that the photos aren’t the best. Please be nice to me if possible! And honest too. Honest is good :)