Questions about tongue peircings

[Spyder_mod]

I might be getting my tongue peirced soon and i was wondering a couple things.

1. How long would it take the peircing to grow over if i took out the ring? Even if ive had it in for a few years, would it still grow over?

2. How do i clean my tongue peircing?

[kaposhia_mod]

Everyone heals differently, so I'll just share my experience.

The first time I pierced it, it took about two weeks to eat and speak normally, but it took a little less than four weeks to heal completely (no more nasty goo coming out). The second time, it only took me one week to regain eating and speaking abilities, but the scar tissue from before was hit, so it swelled up a bit more. It healed completely in about three weeks. You will be pierced with an extra long barbell, because your tongue will swell up, and the extra length gives room for the swelling.

No matter how long you've had a tongue ring, it will always close up (I have never heard of someone otherwise), usually within an hour. Don't take it out before it completely heals because that gives a MUCH higher risk for infection, and it could close up within a minute!

As for cleaning, if it is 100% metal, you can use listerine or some other ADA approved mouthwash. You can take the ring out and then use mouthwash in the cap to clean the ring separately, but I just swish it around until the sting is gone. If it has some other material on it, take it out and use a good soap. Use a mouthwash before you replace the ring, and rinse out your mouth with water before you put the ring back in. I say this because some chemical in mouthwash (you'd do better to wait for a response from someone who knows this part) can deteriorate materials other than metal.

[Spyder_mod]

how long would it take the tongue piercing to fully grow over after being fully healed? Like if you left the tongue ring out.

[X-oticSteel]

Piercings are different for everybody, healing times vary from person to person but MOST people can't leave a tongue ring out for very long before the hole starts to close up.
Not everyone is like this, a friend of mine can leave it out for weeks and there's no problem but he's very lucky, I can't do that.
As for aftercare you'll have to wait for a response from someone else because it's been so long since had mine done I can't really remember.
I DO remember something about Listerine a couple times a day but I'm not sure what else.
Wish I could be more help.

[Buzz Kill]

Don't use listerine while its healing, the alcohol will dry out and irrate your piercing. Do sea salt rinse. Mix 1/4sp. and 1 cup (8oz.) of warm water swish around in your mouth for about 15-20 seconds, I do this twice, then rinse with regular water. Also just go into the piercing studio and talk to them first, it can be very reassuring, they can give you some liturature on the aftercare and what not so you know what you're getting yousrself into.

[Illyria Jade_mod]

http://safepiercing.org/oralAftercare.html

[Spyder_mod]

Thanks everyone! If anyone can help me out more on the closing up question, that would be great.

[kaposhia_mod]

Well, everyone heals differently. If you take your ring out, it will either close up quickly, slowly, or never. We can't tell you how long it will take; it all depends on the individual body's healing process. But like most people, it will close up in a matter of minutes or hours. After it heals, and you want to take it out, it is ok to repierce it. Just give it a week or two to give it time to close completely. If you are one of the lucky ones that it doesn't close up, your piercer should still be able to repierce it next to the old hole because it is healed already.

[Illyria Jade_mod]

Tongues almost always close, just due to their location and the fact that they're pure muscle. *If you decide to take your jewelry out, you need to do your aftercare until your piercing is fully healed.

basiclly what everyone is telling you is ...... everyone is differnt, however if you've had a piercing for years..... it has a better chance of remaining open. that doesnt mean if your streached to a 6g that it will stay that way. I was at an 8 and had mine out for a little over 2 months (75 days haha) and put a 14g back in no problem (w/o) tapering.... 2 weeks and I was back 2 an 8. same thing with my frenum, granted on that one I used a taper.

two differnt girls in the shop today, one wanted to redue her labret... been out awhile she says... (about a year) scars pretty big so I try a 18g taper. and it goes in so bam we go to the 16 yay for her... no repierce needed, smae thing with a navel, jewelry out for the past 5 years (airforce) wants to redo it, scars still there try the taper (18) in it goes so we push her back to a 14, it was tight but still open.
this doesnt work for everyone or every body part but what do you have to lose...? cant get it in? talk to your local pro. chances are they might.

ok so that got sidetracked..... what Im saying is noone can say when a piercing will close, if at all.
but if you want it keep the jewelry in it.

[iamblackbird]

WE DO NOT ADVOCATE THE STRETCHING OF ANY PIERCING MORE THAN A GAUGE A MONTH.