A tongue piercing, typically a straight barbell, passes through the midline of the tongue. The jewelry sometimes needs to be removed for reasons such as a dental procedure, switching styles, or retiring the piercing permanently. Since the tongue heals quickly, self-removal requires careful, clean technique to avoid unnecessary trauma to the tissue. This guide focuses on removing a well-healed piercing, which means one that has been in place for at least six to eight weeks and shows no current signs of infection or irritation.
Essential Preparation Steps
Before beginning the removal process, focus on cleanliness to protect the delicate oral environment. Start by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Consider wearing disposable, non-latex gloves for better grip and sanitation, as the mouth naturally harbors bacteria, making contamination a significant risk.
Assemble all necessary supplies, including a clean paper towel or a small, sterile container for the removed jewelry. Prepare a mild, alcohol-free oral rinse or a sterile saline solution for use both before and after the removal. Position yourself in front of a mirror with good lighting to provide the visual guidance needed for this delicate task.
Step-by-Step Jewelry Removal
The standard tongue piercing jewelry is a straight barbell with a removable ball on one or both ends, and removal centers on unscrewing one of these balls. Most commonly, the top ball is designed to unscrew using a counter-clockwise motion to loosen it. The bottom ball or disc should be stabilized first, often by gently holding it with a piece of clean paper towel to prevent it from spinning.
The barbell has one of two threading types: external (threads on the outside of the bar) or internal (threads inside the bar, with the screw on the ball). Internally threaded jewelry is preferred because its smooth shaft minimizes the risk of micro-tears and irritation to the piercing channel. To access the jewelry, stick your tongue out a comfortable distance and use your non-dominant hand to secure the bottom ball against the underside of your tongue.
Use your dominant hand to firmly grip the top ball and twist it counter-clockwise until it separates from the barbell post. Once the ball is off, gently slide the straight barbell downward and out of the piercing channel. If you feel resistance, pause and check the angle of the bar to ensure it is aligned straight with the piercing tract before continuing.
Troubleshooting Stuck or Difficult Jewelry
Sometimes the ball on a healed piercing can be tightly secured, making it difficult to unscrew with bare fingers due to the slippery environment of the mouth. If you encounter a stuck ball, try using a pair of clean, disposable rubber gloves or a small, dry piece of paper towel to enhance your grip on both the top and bottom balls. The increased friction from the rubber or paper can often provide the necessary leverage to break the seal on the threading.
If the jewelry feels like it is slightly embedded or “nesting” in the tissue, swelling may be making removal difficult. Applying a cold compress or a clean ice cube briefly to the area can sometimes temporarily reduce this swelling. However, if there is significant, painful swelling, bleeding, or the ball will not budge with firm, cautious effort, stop trying to remove it immediately. In these situations, it is safest to seek the assistance of a professional piercer or a medical doctor.
Immediate Post-Removal Care
Once the jewelry is successfully removed, the piercing channel requires immediate and careful attention. First, thoroughly rinse your mouth with a sterile saline solution or an alcohol-free oral rinse to flush the area of any debris or bacteria introduced during the removal. This rinsing is important because the body’s natural defense mechanisms will begin working to close the hole almost immediately.
If you are retiring the piercing, the tongue tissue heals remarkably fast, and the channel may begin to shrink and close within a matter of hours. Continue to rinse your mouth twice daily and after meals for the next several days to keep the site clean until the hole is completely sealed. Monitoring the area for signs of complication is also necessary, looking for persistent redness, excessive swelling, a yellowish-green discharge, or a fever, all of which could indicate an infection requiring medical attention.