Will a tongue piercing make me lisp?

We cannot promise how you will sound in the first days. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) says in its oral aftercare guidance that swelling is common for the first three to five days, and to help reduce swelling it advises not speaking or moving your jewellery more than necessary. Plan a quieter few days, and tell Wendy if speech is your biggest worry so she can talk it through with you.

Can I eat right after getting my tongue pierced?

The oral aftercare guidance from the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) suggests taking your time with eating until you are used to the piercing, says cold foods and drinks can be soothing, and advises avoiding spicy, salty, acidic or hot foods and drinks for the first two weeks. Have something soft and cool ready at home before your appointment, so the first meal is one less thing to figure out.

How old do you have to be to get a tongue piercing at Wicked Inx?

Our shop policy is 18 or older. If you are under 18, a parent needs to be present for the appointment, and we will not pierce a minor without one. If you are booking for a teenager, mention it when you request the appointment so we can talk through what the visit involves before anyone arrives.

Is the jewellery included in the price of a tongue piercing?

Yes. Jewellery is included in our piercing price, and fresh piercings get implant-grade steel or titanium. We keep our prices competitive, and we would rather give you the real figure for your piercing than post a number here. Ask when you request your appointment, and ask what the included jewellery will be for your tongue.

Are piercings half price on Saturdays at Wicked Inx?

We run half-price piercings every Saturday, and it is pre-booked only, so request a Saturday appointment ahead of time rather than counting on a gap in the day. Ask whether the offer applies to the piercing you want when you make the request. The shop confirms the details with you, and the confirmation is what makes the booking real.

Do I need an appointment for a tongue piercing in Hamilton?

Yes. Every service at Wicked Inx is by appointment. Request one through the booking page on our website and tell us it is your first tongue piercing. The request still needs the shop's confirmation before it is booked. We are open Wednesday to Saturday, 1:30 to 5 PM, on Barton Street East in Hamilton.

Tongue Piercing in Hamilton: What to Expect Before, During and After

You have wanted a tongue piercing for a while now. The look is decided. What is not decided is how you feel about a needle near your mouth, whether you will sound ridiculous for a week, and what on earth you are going to eat for dinner.

Good news: those are exactly the questions we expect from a first-timer, and you are exactly who we are best with. Here is the whole thing in order, from deciding it suits you to the first few days at home, so nothing about the appointment comes as a surprise.

Is a tongue piercing worth it for you?

Only you can answer that, but a few honest questions help. Do you love the look enough to change how you eat and talk while it heals? Can you give it a bit of attention after every meal? Are you willing to leave it alone instead of clicking it against your teeth when you are bored?

If the answer is yes, a tongue piercing can be a small, fun, easy-to-hide piece of you. If the answer is "maybe, but I hate fuss," that is worth knowing now, not halfway through the first week. There is no wrong answer. Some people decide a different placement suits them better, and that is a perfectly good outcome of the conversation.

One more practical point: our shop policy is 18 or older, and anyone under 18 needs a parent present.

What we look at in your mouth first

Before anything is opened, Wendy looks at your mouth. Every tongue is built a little differently, and whether a tongue piercing suits you is an individual assessment made with your mouth in front of her, not something a photo or this article can settle.

Help her by mentioning the things that only you know. Do you wear braces, a retainer or a night guard? Have you had recent dental work? Do you play a wind instrument, sing a lot, or talk all day for work? They are simply part of the picture, and it is far better to raise them in the chair than after the piercing is done.

If something about your anatomy means a tongue piercing is not a good idea, the conversation is about what does suit you. Wendy would rather give you a straight answer than a piercing you will regret.

What the appointment is actually like

We go slow. Before anything touches your tongue, we talk you through the placement, the jewellery, the pinch and the healing, and you get to ask anything you like, as many times as you like.

The needle is single-use and opened in front of you, so you can see it come out of its package. The jewellery is implant-grade steel or titanium. Then comes the part people dread most. Wendy tells every first-timer the same thing: "Close your eyes, take a deep breath, you're doing great." It sounds simple because it is. Breathing slowly gives your body something to do other than brace.

We will not tell you it does not hurt. You will feel it. What you will also feel is looked after, by someone who is not rushing you towards the next client. That is the difference a small shop makes.

Why your first bar is longer

When you look in the mirror afterwards, the bar will look long. That is expected. The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) says in its oral aftercare guidance that you may experience swelling for the first three to five days, and it refers to the first jewellery in an oral piercing as the original, longer jewellery, to be replaced once that swelling has gone down.

The APP's guidance on jewellery for initial piercings says jewellery must be of appropriate length for your unique anatomy and the placement of the piercing. For oral piercings in particular, the APP's oral aftercare guidance says that once the swelling has subsided, it is vital to replace the original, longer jewellery with a shorter post or barbell to avoid damage to the teeth and gums, and that because this change often happens during healing, it should be done by a qualified piercer.

Please do not try to shorten, swap or remove the bar yourself. When you think the swelling has settled, request a fit check by appointment through our booking page and have a qualified piercer look at it.

The first few days of eating and talking

This is the part everyone asks about, so here is what the APP's oral aftercare guidance actually says. It suggests taking your time with eating until you are used to the piercing. It says cold foods and drinks can be soothing, and that letting small pieces of ice dissolve in your mouth can help. It also advises avoiding spicy, salty, acidic or hot-temperature foods and drinks for the first two weeks.

So stock the freezer before your appointment. Something soft, something cool, and maybe a treat you will actually look forward to. Slow, small bites feel less awkward than trying to eat a normal meal at normal speed.

Talking may feel a bit clumsy while your tongue is swollen. The APP's guidance advises not speaking or moving your jewellery more than necessary to help reduce swelling, and says that excessive talking or playing with the jewellery can cause scar tissue, migration and other complications. If you have a big presentation or a long shift on the phones, consider booking around it. Your friends can cope with a few days of you being the quiet one.

Cleaning a tongue piercing, the way the APP describes it

Cleaning a tongue piercing is less dramatic than people expect. The APP's oral aftercare guidance says to rinse with bottled or filtered water thoroughly after every time you eat, drink or smoke. It also says to floss, brush and use an alcohol-free mouth rinse at least twice a day, and warns in the same breath that it is vital not to overuse the mouth rinse. More is not better here.

The APP's guidance also suggests sleeping with your head elevated above your heart during the first few nights, which an extra pillow can handle. We explain aftercare before you leave, so you will not be piecing it together from memory at midnight.

For the general rules that apply to every piercing, such as keeping your hands clean and why patience beats fiddling, our piercing aftercare dos and don'ts covers them, so we will not repeat them all here.

Teeth and gums: the question worth asking

This is the part of tongue piercing that people tend to skip, and it is worth a minute. The APP's oral aftercare guidance lists permanent damage to teeth and gums among the long-term effects of oral piercings, and its advice is plain: do not play with your jewellery.

That means no clicking the ball against your teeth, no rolling it around while you watch TV, and no chewing on it when you are concentrating. It becomes a habit very quickly, which is exactly why it is worth deciding now that you will not start.

The question to ask at your appointment is simple: "What should I watch for with my teeth and gums, and when should I come back for a fit check?" Write it down if you think nerves will push it out of your head.

Things to leave alone while you heal

The APP's oral aftercare guidance has a list of things to avoid or cut back on, and it is worth reading on their page in full. Among them, the APP advises avoiding alcohol and large amounts of caffeine as long as you have bleeding or swelling, minimizing smoking and vaping, and avoiding oral contact such as wet kissing during healing.

None of that is meant to scare you off. Being a little careful while you heal is a small trade for a piercing you get to enjoy for a long time. If an event like a wedding or a night out is coming up, tell us the date when you request your appointment and plan around it.

When to come back and see us

The main reason to come back is the fit check once the swelling has settled, as described above. Request it by appointment, the same way you booked the piercing.

Come back with questions, too. If you are unsure whether something you are seeing is normal, the warning signs section of our aftercare article is a good place to start, and if you are worried about your health, speak to a health professional. We would much rather hear from you early than have you sit on a worry.

What to bring and what to tell us

Keep it short. Before your appointment, have these ready:

A parent with you if you are under 18.
A note of any braces, retainers, dental work or mouth habits worth mentioning.
Soft, cool food waiting at home for later.
Your questions about jewellery, the fit check and aftercare.
Any date coming up that the first few days might clash with.

If you are still choosing where to go for a piercing, our guide on how to choose a body piercing studio in Hamilton lists the questions worth asking any shop, including ours.

Booking your tongue piercing in Hamilton

We are Wicked Inx, at 761 Barton St E in Hamilton, open Wednesday to Saturday from 1:30 to 5 PM, and every service is by appointment. Wendy handles our face and body piercings. Jewellery is included in the piercing price, our prices are competitive, and we run half-price piercings every Saturday, pre-booked only.

Nervous is fine. Nervous is normal. Tell us how you feel and we will go at your pace.

Request a tongue piercing appointment and tell us it is your first one. The request still needs the shop's confirmation, and once it is confirmed, the rest is a deep breath.