While the materials used in any body piercing are important and contribute to the health and comfort of the wearer, this is especially important in tongue piercings due to their location and the exposure to bacteria from food and other sources. Materials which are porous, such as acrylic and plastic, harbor bacteria easily. Compounded by the warm, moist, and dark environment provided by the mouth, this can easily lead to infection. Other materials may cause irritation due to nickel content, such as 14 karat gold. It is important that these materials are avoided when choosing new jewelry for a tongue piercing.
Appropriate materials are nonporous metals with a low or no nickel content. Stainless steel of a 316 grade or higher is a popular and inexpensive choice. Titanium and niobium are also popular metal choices which have no nickel content, reducing the risk of irritation. However, metallic choices for jewelry can cause tooth damage such as enamel erosion, so the wearer must be aware of this risk.
Finally, there are nonporous materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which make ideal jewelry choices. Also known as Teflon, PTFE is flexible so it will not damage teeth and gums. It will not harbor bacteria and can be sterilized in an autoclave sterilizer. Another non-metallic jewelry choice is Pyrex or glass, which is often used by those who wish to downplay the appearance of their piercing.
After a piece of jewelry is selected, it is important to clean the jewelry before use, particularly in the case of new piercings.
For established, healed-tongue piercings, simple cleaning will do. Using a plain antibacterial soap and water, wash the jewelry well for 30 seconds or more and dry with a clean,disposable paper towel. This will remove any foreign material, cleaning agents or residue from manufacture.
In the case of early jewelry changes, sterilization is necessary using an autoclave sterilizer. This can be done by a piercer or doctor with access to an autoclave, or by purchasing jewelry which is already autoclave-sterilized from a reputable piercing supplier. A fresh piercing is an open wound, so proper wound care techniques must still be observed.
Changing a tongue piercing can be tricky in that the jewelry is often threaded very tightly and usually hard to grip. Prepare the new jewelry by making sure it is accessible and ready to be inserted. The tongue can be dried using a disposable paper towel. Using a pair of rubber gloves will help increase grip on the jewelry, which can then be loosened, slid out and the new jewelry inserted. The new jewelry must then be tightened by placing the ball on the end and twisting until firmly settled.