What Are Frog Eyes Piercings? And Are They Safe to Get?

Piercing expert Brian Thompson explains the dangers of the frog eyes tongue piercing

Co-authored by Brian Thompson and Devin McSween

Last Updated: March 12, 2026 Fact Checked

• What is it?
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• Is it safe?
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• Risks
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• Healing Time
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• Safer Alternatives
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• Aftercare
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• Key Takeaways
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

The frog eyes piercing is a trendy tongue piercing that’s placed horizontally through the middle of your tongue. But, is it actually safe to get? Unfortunately, most piercers agree that the frog eyes piercing causes more harm than good. In this article, we partnered with piercing experts to explain what a frog piercing is and why it’s not a great idea to get one. We’ll also give you some alternative options that are much safer to get, and provide tongue piercing aftercare and healing tips.

All About the Frog Eyes Piercing

Piercing expert Brian Thompson says the frog eye piercing goes horizontally through the left and right sides of the tongue. While it’s a trendy piercing, it isn’t safe to get, as it can cause serious damage to your teeth and gums. As an alternative, consider getting a venom piercing or a traditional midline piercing.

Steps

Section 1 of 7:

What is a frog eyes piercing?

1. 
   A frog eyes piercing is a horizontal tongue piercing. Thompson says that a frog eyes piercing is a type of surface piercing that goes horizontally through the tongue. The piercing is typically placed closer to the center of the tongue than the tip. It’s done with a straight barbell, with one end going through the right side of the tongue and the other through the left side of the tongue. The two ends of the jewelry are visible and resemble the eyes of a frog (hence the name!), says piercing expert Priscilla Torres.

   • Is the frog eyes piercing the same as the snake eyes piercing? No, but the piercings are similar. The snake eyes piercing goes horizontally through the tip of the tongue and is usually done with a curved barbell. One end of the jewelry is on the right side of the tongue and the other is on the left side.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Brian Thompson is a body piercing expert, as well as the CEO, proprietor, and Chief Piercing Officer of The World Famous Body Electric Tattoo in Los Angeles.

   Priscilla Torres is a piercing expert and owner of The Piercing Bar with over 16 years of experience.

   Trinity Kesterke is a piercing expert and owner of AVA Piercing with over 9 years of experience.

   Stephanie Anders is a piercing specialist and the owner of Royal Heritage Tattoo and Piercing with over 10 years of experience.

   Sasha Blue is a professional body piercer and owner of 13 Bats Tattoo and Piercing Studio with over 20 years of experience.
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Section 2 of 7:

Are frog eyes piercings safe?

1. 
   No, it isn’t safe, and most piercers advise against getting it. While frog eyes piercings look pretty cool, professional piercers agree that they come with a lot of risks that make them a bad idea to get, says piercing expert Trinity Kesterke. Similar to snake eyes piercings, frog eyes piercings can cause tooth and gum damage, and even lead to issues talking and eating.

   • We’ll go more in-depth about the risks of getting a frog eyes piercing in the section below.
   • Most reputable piercers will refuse to do frog eyes piercings because they’re so unsafe. “I stopped piercing tongues because it was so destructive to my clients’ teeth,” says Thompson. “I don’t want to do anything that’s going to negatively impact [someone’s] body.”
   • The state of Oregon completely bans piercers from doing horizontal tongue piercings.
   • If you’re thinking about getting a piercing, piercing specialist Stephanie Anders says it’s super important that you do your research and find a reputable studio to go to. Make sure the studio is licensed, follows cleanliness protocols, and is experienced in the piercing you want to get.

Section 3 of 7:

Frog Eyes Piercing Risks

1. 
   1
   Frog eyes piercings can lead to issues with talking and eating. Piercing the tongue horizontally pins the two halves of the tongue together, which can prevent the muscles from moving properly. This can make it hard to talk clearly, as well as difficult to bite, chew, and swallow food.

   • “[Frog eyes] can change the way you talk,” agrees Thompson. “If the piercer doesn’t place it properly and places it too close to the tip of your tongue, it can change the way you articulate your words.”
2. 
   2
   Frog eyes piercings can cause teeth and gum damage. While all tongue piercings carry some risk of damaging your teeth and gums, horizontal piercings like the frog eyes are more likely to cause issues, says Torres. The jewelry can rub against your teeth, causing chips or cracks, and your gums, which can lead to erosion.

   • Thompson agrees, saying that these piercings can damage the enamel on your teeth, and may also lead to cracked molars or chipped front teeth. They can also harbor bacteria and plaque, he adds.
3. 
   3
   Frog eyes piercings are prone to migration or rejection. Surface piercings like the frog eyes are pierced straight through the top layer of the tissue, rather than through a designated back and front. This makes them prone to migration, or shifting from their original placement. Your body might even reject the piercing and push it all the way out of your tongue.

   • Migration and rejection can sometimes cause scars, too.
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Section 4 of 7:

How long does it take a frog eyes piercing to heal?

1. Expect a frog eyes piercing to heal within 6 to 8 weeks. According to Thompson, the tongue is very quick to heal (and, it’s not very painful to pierce, either). Like most other tongue piercings, a frog eyes piercing can take between 6 to 8 weeks to fully heal.

   • Keep up your aftercare routine until your piercing is fully healed.

Section 5 of 7:

Safer Tongue Piercing Alternatives

1. 
   1
   Venom piercing The venom piercing gives you a similar look to the horizontal piercing, and it’s much safer. It’s technically 2 vertical piercings that are placed side by side vertically through the tongue, usually to the right and left of the center line, says Torres. The piercing is done with straight barbell jewelry.

   • According to professional body piercer Sasha Blue, most tongue piercings heal within 4 to 6 weeks.
2. 
   2
   Midline piercing The midline piercing is always a great choice, as it's the traditional tongue piercing. This piercing goes vertically through the middle line of the tongue, and is typically placed closer to the center. It’s also pierced with a straight barbell.
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Section 6 of 7:

Frog Eyes & Other Tongue Piercing Aftercare

1. 1
   Rinse your mouth with mouthwash after each meal. If you do decide to get a frog eyes piercing, Torres says to keep it clean by rinsing out your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash. Simply rinse out your mouth after each meal and after you drink anything besides water. Anders also recommends that the mouthwash you use is alcohol-free.

   • According to Torres, it’s important to care for a frog eyes piercing just like any other tongue piercing.
   • Note: While it’s not recommended that you get a frog eyes piercing in the first place, if you do decide to get one, it’s very important that you take care of it properly to avoid any further complications down the road.
2. 2
   Maintain your regular oral hygiene. When caring for a tongue piercing, body piercing expert Lynn Loheide says the biggest thing is keeping up your oral health routine: keep brushing and flossing 2 to 3 times per day. Just switch to using a mild toothpaste that doesn’t have any alcohol or whitening chemicals in it, like peroxide or charcoal.

   • According to Loheide, alcohol and whitening chemicals can be harsh on the healing piercing wound. Plus, they can irritate the tissue and even cause tissue overgrowth.
3. 3
   Manage swelling with cold foods and drinks. Tongue swelling is normal after getting a piercing, and Loheide says eating or drinking something cool can help. For instance, drink cold water and other cool drinks, like smoothies, and eat cold foods like ice cream and popsicles.
4. 4
   Eat soft foods, and avoid hot and spicy foods. While your tongue heals, Anders recommends eating soft foods, like soup and yogurt. Because your tongue will probably be pretty swollen, this helps reduce irritation and discomfort. She also says to avoid eating anything that can cause irritation and worsen swelling, like spicy, salty, and citrusy foods and drinks.
5. 5
   Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking while your tongue heals. Torres says it's important to keep your mouth clean while your frog eyes piercing heals, so it’s best to avoid smoking or drinking alcohol. As Blue explains, alcoholic drinks can promote swelling. Plus, smoking can prolong healing.

   • Torres also advises against kissing as much as possible while your piercing heals. Kissing and other intimate contact can introduce bacteria to the piercing and lengthen its healing time.
6. 6
   Eat slowly and carefully. As Loheide explains, “When a tongue is first pierced, the jewelry is very long to accommodate for the swelling of the tongue, and that can make it easy to get caught or snagged or bitten while you're eating.” So she suggests taking smaller bites of food and cutting up food rather than taking bites out of it. Loheide also says it can be helpful to tilt your head so the food moves around our mouth as you chew.

   • On a similar note, avoid touching, twisting, or moving your piercing as much as possible to help it heal properly. Blue says, “Every time you touch it, you can irritate it and make it take so much longer to heal, and potentially heighten the chances of complications.”
7. 7
   Get your piercing downsized once the swelling goes down. It’s really important to go to your piercer and get the piercing jewelry shortened once your tongue is done swelling, says Loheide. If you keep the long jewelry in, it’s more likely to rub against your teeth and gums, which can cause oral damage. Plus, you’re more likely to accidentally bite it and move it, which can also cause damage.

   • Loheide says swelling typically subsides between 1 to 6 weeks. You’ll know it’s time to downsize when the bar of the jewelry feels long or you can see it.
8. 8
   Go to a doctor if you experience any signs of infection. If you notice pain, redness, burning, or pus coming out of your piercing, visit your doctor immediately. These can all be signs that it’s infected. Your doctor will likely prescribe you antibiotics to treat the infection.
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Section 7 of 7:

Key Takeaways

1. 
   It’s not a good idea to get a frog eyes piercing. While the frog eyes piercing certainly looks cool, unfortunately, it’s not safe to get. The horizontal surface piercing can make it difficult to eat and talk, and it can cause tooth and gum damage, notes Kesterke. Plus, it’s prone to migration and rejection. Instead, go with a safer tongue piercing option, like the venom or midline piercing.

   • Only get piercings from reputable piercing studios. If a studio tells you they’re happy to give you a frog eyes piercing or other horizontal tongue piercing, go to a different place.

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