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Posted 23 May 2009

Tongue ring question: How long can you leave it out before...

it grows over? And does it grow "shut" at all?

Had my tongue ring and some other piercings for about 7 years now.
Recently took my tongue ring out as I wanted a new one, had it out for over 2 weeks and the "hole" was still there.
Does anyone know if it grows over at all and if so, how long does it take roughly?
No assumptions please lol I can make those myself.
Thanks in advance guys and gals
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Dan_82's avatar
[Guide] Caring for your tongue piercing


Tongue piercings are one of the most popular piercings to get but are also one of the trickiest to care for. That’s because the mouth is a hotbed for bacteria, which means tongue piercings can quickly become infected. We’ve made this quick guide so that you can know exactly how to care for it and what not to do when caring for your tongue piercing.


The 5 Different Types of Tongue Piercings: How Piercings Work

There’s 5 different locations in and around the tongue that are typically pierced:


  • Midline – The most common type goes right into the centre of tongue, done with a straight barbell.
  • Tip – The top of the tongue can also be directly pierced, with the balls of the barbell sticking out in two. These are sometimes referred to as “snake eyes”.
  • Side – Done in a similar fashion to midline piercings, with the incision made to either the left or the right side of the tongue.
  • Horizontal – With this piercing, the tongue is pierced from side to side with the bar going through the middle of your tongue. While these piercings are theoretically possible, they can be very dangerous, so be sure to have this one done with a tongue piercing specialist.
  • Frenulum – The underside of the tongue is pierced, with a curved barbell or circular barbell being used.

What To Do After Getting Your Tongue Piercing

So, how long does it take for a tongue piercing to close? It takes between 6-8 weeks for your tongue piercing to heal and it’s in this phase that infections can be the most likely to occur, so tongue piercing aftercare is very important. You should clean the area around your piercing regularly throughout the day (although be sure not to do so too often). You can use either sea-salt or mouthwash diluted in water as a cleaning mixture. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning the piercing. It’s also important to clean your teeth and tongue regularly each morning and night.


After the healing period, you’ll need to keep the piercing in for at least 6 months in order to make sure the piercing doesn’t close itself. If you want to be on the safe side, you should leave the piercing in for one year.


How Do Piercings Heal and How Long Can I Leave My Tongue Ring Out?

When you pierce a part of the body, you are causing minor trauma to that part of the body. SO how do tongue piercings heal? Your body’s natural response is to heal this part of the body by closing the wound and allow it to scar. With a piercing, you are stopping your immune system from performing its natural response to injury. This causes the body to alter its healing process by going through 3 stages.


  • Early healing phase – In the early days after receiving the piercing, the site will be sensitive to even slight contact. You may be tempted to fidget with the piercing but this will only cause bleeding, raise the risk of infection and lengthen healing time. It’s also likely that the site will swell up during this time, leading some to dub this phase the ‘inflammation phase’.
  • Main healing phase – Your body begins to learn that this site isn’t going to heal and sends different kinds of agents to the body. These will help to heal the area, destroy bacteria and toughen up the area around the piercing to prevent further damage. While it’s not as bad to occasional touch off the piercing during this stage, you should still continue to avoid regular contact with the piercing site during this time. This stage lasts several months, so you’ll need to take care if you still think your piercing is at this stage of the healing cycle.
  • Maturation phase – Your immune system begins to stop firing in this area and the piercing beings to toughen up. You may notice a clear, thick substance form around the piercing. This is a result of your body trying to moisturise the site and is completely normal. If it’s irritating you, simply take some lukewarm water and dab gently around the piercing.
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  1. deleted71428's avatar
    loupomm;5299467

    had mine out for 2 weeks when i lost my balls



    You lost your balls? :?
  2. deleted71428's avatar
    At just over 2 weeks, you begin to grow a second tongue - from out of your backside.

    I'd put it back in quick if I were you.
  3. TanyaSpace's avatar
    Author
    singer;5299413

    yes it does grow over from the inside out , usually takes about 10 days … yes it does grow over from the inside out , usually takes about 10 days sorry ,you may notice hole still at top of tongue, but will heal fast from bottom first singer



    Hm well had it out for 2 weeks and it was fine still. Put it back in yesterday.

    Liddle ol' me;5299419

    At just over 2 weeks, you begin to grow a second tongue - from out of … At just over 2 weeks, you begin to grow a second tongue - from out of your backside. I'd put it back in quick if I were you.



    LOL
    I googled it and I couldn´t find an answer so I hoped someone on here knows.
    Don´t plan to leave it out any longer, was just curious about the above mentioned.
  4. tessb's avatar
    I'm afraid to take mine out as I've heard it can close over in less than 24 hours. I've had it done for 10 years now, hubby would never ask me to remove it

    If it healed I don't know if I could go through getting it pierced again, that was sooo uncomfortable!
  5. deleted42588's avatar

    Tongue ring question: How long can you leave it out before...it grows … Tongue ring question: How long can you leave it out before...it grows over? And does it grow "shut" at all?



    Thank god this thread was about piercing!
  6. deleted169698's avatar
    i had mine out for 3 years and it went back in no problem at all.
  7. deleted2443392's avatar
    deleted376723/05/2009 14:52

    yes it does grow over from the inside out , usually takes about 10 days sor …yes it does grow over from the inside out , usually takes about 10 days sorry ,you may notice hole still at top of tongue, but will heal fast from bottom first singerps remember the tongue is a muscle unlike the ear which is cartilege


    I took mine out 2 years ago,and lastnight the barbell slid right through again,so I beg to differ on the 10 day comment
  8. deleted3767's avatar
    yes it does grow over from the inside out , usually takes about 10 days
    sorry ,you may notice hole still at top of tongue, but will heal fast from bottom first
    singer
    ps remember the tongue is a muscle unlike the ear which is cartilege
  9. deleted20644's avatar
    i have my tongue pierced for 4 years, was told it heals very quickly, but have had mine out for 2 weeks when i lost my balls,and it didnt, maybe it varies from person to person and depends how long its been pierced
  10. TanyaSpace's avatar
    Author
    loupomm;5299467

    maybe it varies from person to person and depends how long its been … maybe it varies from person to person and depends how long its been pierced




    Yeah that´s what I was thinking too.
    Thanks for the input
  11. deleted18986's avatar
    Liddle ol' me;5299419

    At just over 2 weeks, you begin to grow a second tongue - from out of … At just over 2 weeks, you begin to grow a second tongue - from out of your backside.



    Is that akin to talking out of your rear end?

    I might know a few people who've had this happen to them then lol :?
  12. thekudos's avatar
    TanyaSpace;5299442

    Hm well had it out for 2 weeks and it was fine still. Put it back in … Hm well had it out for 2 weeks and it was fine still. Put it back in yesterday..




    Are you human?
  13. deleted71428's avatar
    emasu;5299520

    Is that akin to talking out of your rear end?I might know a few people … Is that akin to talking out of your rear end?I might know a few people who've had this happen to them then lol :?



    Something similar yes. But I have an embarrassing admission to make: It's not actually true about it growing there.

    I'm sorry that I lied and fooled you all. :oops:
  14. dmissy13's avatar
    I have a hard time putting mine back in after it being out over night but after years of beging from my hubby i removed mine last week and finding it hard not to go and get another piercing or tatoo to make up for it lol
  15. dodsey77's avatar
    Mine used to start healing after just 1 day... think it took about a maximum of a week for mine to close completely.
  16. deleted20644's avatar
    Liddle ol' me;5299503

    You lost your balls? :?



    yep, tricky to get a good grip if they are small :thumbsup:
  17. deleted71428's avatar
    loupomm;5299910

    yep, tricky to get a good grip if they are small :thumbsup:



    Yes, so my partner keeps telling me. She doesn't have any piercing though, so I have no idea what she means :?
  18. deleted20644's avatar
    Liddle ol' me;5300138

    Yes, so my partner keeps telling me. She doesn't have any piercing … Yes, so my partner keeps telling me. She doesn't have any piercing though, so I have no idea what she means :?



    i find it easier to use my teeth, serious :w00t:
  19. Gem_whl's avatar
    hodsey77;5299766

    Mine used to start healing after just 1 day... think it took about a … Mine used to start healing after just 1 day... think it took about a maximum of a week for mine to close completely.



    Same here mine closed up after 5-6 days. I don't think i'll get it pierced again tho
  20. deleted71428's avatar
    loupomm;5300153

    i find it easier to use my teeth, serious :w00t:



    Ooohhh ... now i'm wondering if we are on the same topic. If so, you are scaring me! :shock:
  21. dodsey77's avatar
    Gem_whl;5300199

    Same here mine closed up after 5-6 days. I don't think i'll get it … Same here mine closed up after 5-6 days. I don't think i'll get it pierced again tho



    No, neither would I... it was quite cool, but the damage I've done to my teeth because of it, and the amount of times I swallowed balls (lol!) was too many to count!

  22. deleted71428's avatar
    hodsey77;5301062

    it was quite cool, but the damage I've done to my teeth because of it, … it was quite cool, but the damage I've done to my teeth because of it, and the amount of times I swallowed balls...



    This thread is just getting obscene now, and it's only 18:51
  23. deleted32018's avatar
    My husband takes his out now and again, and his has never healed shut. Sometimes as long as 8/9 months.
  24. deleted3767's avatar
    balls against the teeth are usually pretty sore i find

    singer
  25. deleted71428's avatar
    singer;5301405

    balls against the teeth are usually pretty sore i find singer



    Sore balls or sore teeth? :?
  26. deleted3767's avatar
    sore balls
    singer
  27. deleted71428's avatar
    singer;5301479

    sore balls singer



    That's what I figured.
  28. deleted988228's avatar
    loupomm

    i have my tongue pierced for 4 years, was told it heals very quickly, but … i have my tongue pierced for 4 years, was told it heals very quickly, but have had mine out for 2 weeks when i lost my balls,and it didnt, maybe it varies from person to person and depends how long its been pierced



    i AGREE. IVE HAD MINE FOR 7 YEARS AS WELL. I TOOK IT OUT IN DECEMBER AND IT IS NOW FEBRUARY AND IT IS STILL OPEN. IT IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN INITIALLY BUT I CAN STILL USE IT
  29. deleted1563738's avatar
    deleted2064423/05/2009 16:36

    i find it easier to use my teeth, serious :w00t:


    When I was at agricultural college the two Kiwi exchange students were amazed at the time we took castrating the lambs with a scalpel. The lecturer asked them how they did it in NZ, one lad picked up the lamb by the back legs and bit them off in a matter of seconds and spat them out. I can still picture it to this day. 30 years later
  30. deleted102169's avatar
    deleted98822807/02/2014 19:26

    i AGREE. IVE HAD MINE FOR 7 YEARS AS WELL. I TOOK IT OUT IN DECEMBER AND …i AGREE. IVE HAD MINE FOR 7 YEARS AS WELL. I TOOK IT OUT IN DECEMBER AND IT IS NOW FEBRUARY AND IT IS STILL OPEN. IT IS SLIGHTLY SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN INITIALLY BUT I CAN STILL USE IT


    Use it for what, straining spaghetti?

  31. deleted2231691's avatar
    Hii... I want to knowhow long to leave a tongue piercing out cuz I got mine in for 4 weeks now and just want to sleep normal cuz my tongue piercing gets dry cuz I have a bad cold but ya then it gives me a bad taste so any advice someone cuz it doesn't give it to you on Google
  32. tregs's avatar
    deleted223169122/05/2019 20:14

    Hii... I want to knowhow long to leave a tongue piercing out cuz I got …Hii... I want to knowhow long to leave a tongue piercing out cuz I got mine in for 4 weeks now and just want to sleep normal cuz my tongue piercing gets dry cuz I have a bad cold but ya then it gives me a bad taste so any advice someone cuz it doesn't give it to you on Google



    What did the person who pierced your tonge advise?
  33. deleted2277379's avatar
    I’ve had my tongue peirced for a few months & a few minutes ago I lost one of the balls and I have no other tongue rings at the moment I’d have to go one the piercing place is open , but how long can I leave my tongue ring out untill it closes ? Ps. I have snake eyes for my toungue not the normal tongue piercing
  34. deleted2539365's avatar
    I just realized that one of the metal balls from my tongue ring had fallen out and I must've swallowed it, I have no way of getting a new ball or anything until tomorrow evening, will it close up that quickly will I be able to get the barbell back through after being out that long? I've had my tongue piercing for years.
  35. deleted2551359's avatar
    I had mine out for roughly three years put it back in a few days ago. It took a little bit, but it fit. The past few days have been a bit uncomfortable, but I imagine that’s because, as has been said, it heals from the inside, so I repierced it some
  36. deleted2643289's avatar
    I have had my tongue piercing for about 16 years. I don't wear it much cause every time I put a tongue ring in the bottom of my tongue where the hole is itches so I just take it out. what causes this? does anyone know or is it just me?
  37. deleted2643289's avatar
    deleted253936521/07/2020 22:15

    I just realized that one of the metal balls from my tongue ring had fallen …I just realized that one of the metal balls from my tongue ring had fallen out and I must've swallowed it, I have no way of getting a new ball or anything until tomorrow evening, will it close up that quickly will I be able to get the barbell back through after being out that long? I've had my tongue piercing for years.


    It won't close up m that soon. I got years with out wearing mine and never even struggled getting a new one in.
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