Tongue Splitting Legal States 2025

When people talk about tongue splitting, they usually refer to a practice where the tongue itself is cut down the middle. While the cut is typically made starting at the underside and then working its way back, the practice has evolved over the past few hundred years, and there are different methods of doing so. This is usually done for cultural reasons, although there are some people who view this as a form of body mutilation. While the practice is not necessarily common in the developed world, it is not unheard of, either. Therefore, it is important to take a closer look at this procedure to see whether it is illegal in the United States or not.

Is Tongue Splitting Legal in the United States?

Yes, tongue splitting is legal in the United States; however, there are some restrictions. These restrictions can vary from state to state.

Illinois was the first state that addressed tongue splitting specifically, passing a law to make it illegal in 2003. Since then, other states have followed. Tongue splitting is illegal in Delaware, New York, Tennessee, and Texas.

In some states, the practice cannot be performed on minors at all. In other cases, it cannot be performed without the consent of the parent. The practice also cannot be done without the consent of the person receiving the procedure. Even in states that do not address tongue splitting specifically, doing this procedure without the consent of the individual can be considered assault.

New Hampshire, Florida, Montana, Oregon, and Kentucky all require tongue splitting to be performed by a medical doctor or a dentist. New Hampshire considers tongue splitting to be a surgical procedure.

Additionally, although it is legal in all other states, certain cities or counties may have their own restrictions for tongue splitting.

Have Other Countries Banned Tongue Splitting?

While the United States has a few states that have restricted tongue splitting, it has not been addressed often by other countries. In Australia, the state of Victoria passed a law banning tongue splitting from being done on minors under any circumstances. In the United Kingdom, a law was passed in 2018 stating that tongue splitting was considered illegal if it was being performed by a body modification practitioner for cosmetic purposes. It remains to be seen if tongue splitting will be addressed by other countries in the future.

Is Tongue Splitting Bad?

While tongue splitting is not necessarily considered bad, it can be considered dangerous if it is not performed by someone with experience in this area. There are a lot of blood vessels in the tongue, and when tongue splitting is done, it is possible that there could be a tremendous amount of blood loss. In addition, there could be a chance of infection. There is also some concern that tongue splitting might be a procedure that is forced on someone else, which could be a form of assault. This is also not something that can be reversed easily, so there are a lot of people who are concerned that those who engage in tongue splitting might not realize the permanence of the procedure and what it means.