You might not be surprised anymore to see people with pierced tongues, lips or cheeks, but you might be surprised to know just how dangerous these piercings can be. There are many risks involved with oral piercings including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, or blood poisoning. The mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing.

We do not recommend it. Infection is a common complication of oral piercing due to the high level of bacteria in the mouth. Many symptoms and complication have been reported: pain, swelling, infection and injuries to gum tissue. Swelling can be expected with tongue piercing and can lead to difficulty breathing, uncontrollable bleeding and nerve damage. See similar questions...

Yes. I had a student who played fine with it. He played in a Ska/Punk Rock Band. Of course it is best to remove it when playing. It works, but doesn’t look pretty. See similar questions...

Yes, your tongue is directly connected with nerves which transfer directly to the brain and could cause serious complicationsif not dealt with properly. See similar questions...

Yes, for the first day or two you will experience pain while eating due to swelling from the new piercing. See similar questions...

A tongue scraper has two rows of plastic serrated scrapers on one side and two rows of bristles on the other. The scrapers gently clean the tongue, while the bristles reach into the tiny grooves on the surface to dislodge bacteria and debris. See similar questions...

While we always welcome "walk-ins," appointments are advised so you will not have to wait. If you have any health issues which might affect your ability to heal a piercing, make sure to consult us or your doctor before obtaining a piercing. Eat about an hour before your appointment and have NO alcohol or mind-altering drugs in your system. See similar questions...

All of the piercings are done using sterile disposable piercing needles. For many of the placements I use forceps, which are applied to hold the area securely for the piercing. These may also help to numb the region by reducing the circulation. Certain areas, such as the nasal septum, Prince Albert, and vertical clitoral hood piercings use a device called an NRT for needle receiving tube. These are locations where forceps are not practical or necessary, nor comfortable or safe. See similar questions...

It is not uncommon for a parent to get a piercing — often even the same piercing — along with their child. This is an excellent way to strengthen the familial bond, and it helps you understand what they're going through. Assuming you have some interest in a piercing, this can be a very rewarding experience for everyone. See similar questions...

This is a totally individual thing. Tongue coating is a combination of saliva, bacteria, and by product. For hygiene purposes you should clean your tongue every day (using our recommended cleaning method). In a bad breath sufferer, the bacteria in the tongue coating is an accumulation of anaerobic bacteria and sulphur compounds that cause bad breath. So for bad breath patients, tongue coating is not good. See similar questions...

The delivery system of MigraSpray enhances bioavailability by allowing the solution to be absorbed directly into the blood stream through the mucous membrane under the tongue without degradation from exposure to the gastrointestinal system and liver. See similar questions...

Yes. A 2004 study demonstrated that more than 40% of bad breath comes from material such as plaque and food debris on the tongue, and that 75% of bad breath compounds are removed by cleaning the tongue. (Pedrazzi, et al. J Perio. 75: 1009, 2004) See similar questions...

A normal toothbrush can help but a tongue scraper will more effectively dislodge and remove bacteria and food debris. See similar questions...

The tongue is a road map of the internal workings of the body. It reflects the general health of the organs. By observing the body of the tongue and the coating I assess the color, texture, coating condition, shape, and general appearance looking for signs that either match your symptoms or reviles symptoms that previously were not identified. The tongue is divided into sections that represent the internal organs. A tongue diagnosis shows both internal and external conditions. See similar questions...

These are in reference to heat flow directions. They are a part of the criteria utilized in R-value testing. For example, when testing a floor assemblage, heat flow down is tested. When testing for a wall system occurs, heat flow horizontal is tested (same as all conductive heat transfer insulations). See similar questions...

Find out what a guage is, what size jewelry is common for most piercings and how to figure out what gauge your piercing or jewelry is. See similar questions...