How to Disinfect a New Tongue Ring

Show off your tongue ring only after it is healed.

Placing a new ring in your tongue piercing without proper disinfection can result in an infection. Original tongue jewelry requires periodic disinfecting as well, even if it is never removed. Tongue rings are made from surgical steel, solid titanium, solid gold, niobium or acrylic plastic, which requires different disinfecting procedures. The chances of infection are high as tongue rings are located in the mouth, a breeding ground for bacteria.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Pan
• Paper towels
• Single-use gloves
• Rubbing alcohol

Instructions

1. Bring 1/2-cup to 1-cup water to a rolling boil in a pan. Unscrew the barbells from the ring to disinfect all pieces. If your ring contains plastic pieces, set them aside to disinfect with rubbing alcohol. Place the ring in the water and allow it to boil for at least 5 minutes.

2. Allow the water to cool before removing the ring pieces or strain the water to get to the jewelry. Put on a pair of single-use, sterile gloves before handling the jewelry to avoid spreading germs. Set the ring out to dry on clean paper towels in a sunny area of your home that cannot be disrupted by children or pets.

3. Use rubbing alcohol to disinfect plastic tongue ring pieces. Soak plastic pieces in rubbing alcohol for 10 to 15 minutes. Use sterile gloves to hold the pieces as you rinse them thoroughly in clean water.

4. Keep up proper oral hygiene. Brush your teeth as well as your tongue ring twice daily and don't forget to floss. Use alcohol-free mouthwash to avoid drying out new piercings.

5. Remove the tongue ring for disinfection only after the piercing has healed. Taking out your tongue ring before this will cause the hole to close. Use boiling water to disinfect your tongue ring once a month for best results.

Tips & Warnings

• Care for the piercing itself as well as the ring is vital to avoid infection, such as rinsing the mouth with water following eating and drinking of anything save water during the healing process.

• Refrain from biting your fingernails, an area of the body where bacteria resides and can therefore infect your piercing.

• Avoid using hydrogen peroxide to disinfect piercings as well as alcohol or alcohol-based mouthwashes as these will cause the pierced area to dry out.

References

• TongueRings.com: Tongue Piercing Aftercare
• Go Ask Alice: Pondering the Pros and Cons of Tongue Piercing; March 2001
• Association of Professional Piercers: Oral Aftercare

Resources

• Caring for Young Women's Health: Body Piercing