Piercings have been done since the dawn of time. Primitive tribes used different types of piercings or hairstyles to show positions and status. The meanings are of lesser hierarchical values these days however, the popularity is not any less. The culture of piercings has morphed and evolved over the years with different variations emerging. One of these variations is the venom piercing.
Normal tongue piercings are commonly placed with one barbell towards the center of the tongue. Venom piercings, however, consist of two smaller sized piercings on the left and right of the tongue but closer to the tip. This positioning mimics the placement of the teeth of snakes through which venom is released when they deliver a bit, hence the name, Venom Piercing.
Reduce Venom Piercing Risks: Preparation
Oral hygiene is the most important pre and posts piercing consideration as you want to prevent infections and decrease the venom piercing risks. Below are a few things you should do:
- Avoid all milk and dairy products. These products contain a lot of bacteria and catalyze the existence of harmful bacteria in your mouth which can be there for hours.
- Brush your teeth at least 3 times daily for up to four days before the piercing.
- Use mouthwash each time you brush your teeth (this is not recommended after the piercing is done).
- Wash your mouth out with baking soda. Baking soda is used as a cure for halitosis as it kills bacteria that cause gingivitis and yeast infections in the mouth.
- Drink a lot of water. This is not only for hydration but to help to eliminate toxins that might affect your immune system.
All these things should be done consistently for up to five days before going to get your venom piercing to minimize all the risks.
Venom Piercing Procedure
the process of getting a venom piercing is similar to other piercing processes, as well. To start with, you want to choose the most reputable and clean piercing shop that you can find. It is of the utmost importance that you make the right move here to avoid problems in the future.
Once you have decided which shop to go to, have a talk with your potential piercer. Ask specific questions regarding the piercing and make sure it’s right for you. Questions about aftercare, the healing process, and how high or low-maintenance the piercing is overall would be great things to keep in mind.
If the shop has you sign any paperwork, make sure you are reading it thoroughly in order to avoid any surprises. The last thing you want is to get an infection or be uncomfortable because you didn’t follow instructions.
When it is time to get the piercing, you should always witness your piercer getting a new, sterile needle out of a single-use package beforehand. In fact, all of the instruments that he or she uses should be unpackaged before you and they should be wearing gloves, as well.
The piercing itself shouldn’t take long. It may involve the use of a clamp and a hollow needle, as well. Your piercer should provide you with all the information you need to feel secure and safe with your new piercing.
Venom Piercing Cost & Sizes
The cost of the venom piercing will vary from salon to salon however and acceptable range is $30-$100 depending on the kind of ring you choose to use, location and notoriety of the salon you choose to the piercing.
When it comes to piercings, the bigger the number of the gauge the smaller the ring actually is. The gauge refers to the width of the stem of the ring. Rarely does anyone ever use a 10/12 gauge stem for piercings as these are massive? However, to facilitate healing the gauge will be bigger than what will be worn after on a permanent basis as the size of the hole will shrink while healing.
A 14 gauge ring is often used and these can be kept in or switch out for thinner 16 gauges after healing. The closer to the tip of the tongue the piercing is the smaller the gauge will be. With regards to length, there is no standard length however, taller rings will be used to again facilitate swelling while the piercing is healed and these can be switched out after 2-3 weeks for smaller rings.
Venom Piercing Jewelry Examples
Venom Piercing Healing Times
The healing times of each person can vary and the general health condition of a person has to be taken into consideration. A weakened immune system could mean the need for more healing time and an overactive immune system could lead to your body rejecting the piercing. Constant allergies are a sign of an overactive immune system.
Regular tongue piercings can take anywhere from 4- 8 weeks to heal to completion. With a venom piercing, you are dealing with two piercings, however, the healing time should not differ much as long as you practice good oral hygiene.
After your first two weeks when you revisit your piercing to have a shorter piercing put in place, they will advise you of how far along in the healing process you are and if you will need more time than the 4- 8 weeks to heal.
Venom Piercing Aftercare
You want to be extra careful with your venom piercing during its healing period. Most likely, during the first few days, you will encounter a bit of swelling and tenderness. Venom bites aftercare is very simple, and you will be healed quickly as long as you follow proper venom tongue piercing aftercare.
After you have received your venom piercing, it is very important to take good care of yourself to avoid any piercing infections. Remember out of all the places on your body, your mouth contains the most bacteria. Some are good and some are bad but do not depend on natural balance to protect you from infection.
Venom Bites Piercing Aftercare Instructions
The following steps should be taken:
- Step One
Practice EXCELLENT oral hygiene. - Step Two
Switch to a new toothbrush with soft bristles. You can also by a baby practice toothbrush to help with the cleaning of your tongue. - Step Three
Rinse your mouth after every meal with soft mouthwash or diluted one, baking soda solution or warm sea salt rinse. - Step Four
For the first twenty-four hours and especially the morning after the piercing is done, ice should be your best friend. - Step Five
Gently ensure your barbells are tightened before every meal and before going to bed. The movement of the mouth can cause balls to become loose and if the ring slips out the piercing will be lost in a matter of minutes- holes made in the tongue or lip do not take long to close.
Suggested Aftercare Products For Venom Piercing
Are you wondering what products you should use to take care of your new piercing? We are here to help! We have done the heavy lifting for you and listed our favorite aftercare products for venom piercings.
H2Ocean Arctic Ocean Mouthwash
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It is very important to rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash such as H2Ocean Arctic Ocean Mouthwash after every meal.
This product can help heal and protect your new venom piercing since it does not contain any harmful chemical solutions. It does not include alcohol and fluoride, permitting you to rinse sea salt-based mouthwash that only contains natural antibacterial enzymes.
Now, you don’t have to make a salt solution that does not taste good at all. H2Ocean mouthwash is formulated with xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that comes from fruits and vegetables. Also, this is generated naturally by our bodies. It can avoid dry mouth, strep, and plaque. Rinsing with H2Ocean Arctic Ocean Mouthwash is much easier and enjoyable.
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Oral B Sensi Soft Toothbrush
[amazon fields=”B0787KBLQ3″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_alt=”Best Toothbrush for Tongue and Venom Piercings”]
Regardless if you have a new piercing, you should continue brushing your teeth. However, you must be gentle and avoid brushing your tongue until such time that all the swelling has disappeared.
The Oral-B Sensi-Soft Toothbrush gives you a gentle clean. Its ultra-soft bristles can gently and effectively clean your teeth and gums. Since this is a manual toothbrush then it can thoroughly eliminate plaque and food from your teeth to avoid tooth decay.
It is ergonomically designed to give you total control and makes your brushing more comfortable. Oral-B is the brand that most dentists use.
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Dial Complete Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap
[amazon fields=”B071FH4LD7″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_alt=”Hand Soap for Piercing Aftercare”]
Always wash your hands before touching your venom piercing. Wash it with an antibacterial soap such as Dial Complete Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap. It can kill germs and it’s very gentle on the skin. There are two scents to choose from, Spring Water and Fresh Pear.
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Nutricare Plus Pure Emu Oil
[amazon fields=”B00N4KNO5G” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_alt=”Emu Oil Piercing Solution”]
Emu Oil is hypo-allergenic, so it works well on any type of skin. You can apply it to any type of piercings. You can also use it on your wounds. Emu oil can soothe your skin. It can provide you with a soothing effect while healing your venom piercing.
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Venom Piercing Aftercare Tips
- Try not to eat anything solid for the first 24 hours. Remember your tongue or lip now have two foreign objects injected into it and it is swollen and easily irritated. Too much irritation can cause excess bleeding and more swelling. If this happens you will be very uncomfortable.
- Avoid consuming anything hot for the first two days. Drink room temperature water and cold juices which will help with the swelling and the coolness will soothe your tongue.
- Do not consume any dairy products. The bacteria and coagulation process of milk products can actually lead to infections.
- Do not use an antiseptic mouth wash that contains alcohol. This will irritate your piercing and slow healing process.
- The best mouthwash until your piercing gets better is a combination of baking soda solution followed by a sea salt rinse. The baking soda will kill harmful bacteria that promote infections and cause odors while the sea salt will help with healing.
- Try not to exchange saliva with anyone else for at least the first week, the saliva contains bacteria that can easily be swapped from person to person.
- Be careful how close to the tip of the tongue the piercing is placed. There is a nerve to the tip of your tongue which affects your hearing if it is pinched the pain will be excruciating and it could affect your hearing. Have you ever bit your tongue and felt the pain in your inner ear? This is why.
These steps and procedures are to be followed whether or not your venom piercing is a tongue or lip venom piercing and do often account for almost every oral piercing.
Venom Piercing Common Questions
Now that you know a little about venom piercings, you probably have new questions in mind. Not to worry, many of our readers share the same feelings with us after reading our content. Here are some of their most commonly asked questions:
Is it painful to get a venom piercing?
You are going to have a certain level of pain no matter what piercing you get. A needle is going through a solid part of your body! The venom piercing is usually rated on the lower end of the pain scale, around a four out of ten for most people.
How long does it take for a venom piercing to heal?
This is also something that can depend on the person getting the piercing. With perfect piercing aftercare and watching what you eat, it can take around four weeks. In most cases, though, it takes about eight weeks to heal completely.
Are venom piercings dangerous?
As long as you take your time choosing a quality piercing shop, you should have nothing to worry about. The piercing itself doesn’t carry many risks when executed correctly. Any piercing can become dangerous without proper aftercare, so make sure you’re caring for it, and you should be just fine!
Venom Piercings Final Thoughts
Venom piercings are awesome piercings to look at, to play with, to kiss with and to show off. Oral hygiene, however, is of utmost importance. If you do not practice proper oral hygiene you run the risk of losing the piercing when infection sets in.
Protect your mouth and take care of your new venom piercing, seek the advice of safe piercings whenever necessary or reach out to us. Do you have a venom piercing yourself? Tell us in the comments how your experience was!
Hello! My name is Emily and I obsessed with piercings (and tattoos) since I was a little girl of 6 years old. I was fortunate enough to make my passion my work after meeting my amazing husband Jeffrey who owned his own tattoo shop. I just recently finished my internships at some of America’s most famous piercing shops and a dream to start something together was born. After falling in love with each other (and each other’s piercings and tattoos) we decided to expand his tattoo shop and I got to manage my own piercing shop in the same space! I’ve never been so happy being able to share my love for piercings through my shop and this blog I started back in 2013. We love to share models and inspiration, so feel free to email me your suggestions, pictures or if you just want to say hi!