Do tongue piercings close?

Tongue Rings > Body Jewelry FAQ > Do tongue piercings close?
by All Piercings Staff Writer

A) Yes – they do. If you keep the tongue jewelry out and the piercing empty then it is more likely than not that the tongue piercing will close. But that does not mean that you cannot remove your tongue jewelry at all. As to how long you can keep the jewelry out is difficult to say. Piercings for different people behave differently. You could keep your jewelry out for a few days and still keep your piercing, whereas someone else may remove their jewelry for just a few hours and have their tongue piercing close. I once came across a situation where a friend of mine had removed his tongue barbell just for 2 hours to go attend a very important meeting (where his unusual jewelry might not have been appreciated) and the hole closed up.

Even different piercings on the same person have a dissimilar lifespan without jewelry. Your ear piercing will in all probability remain open without jewelry for even a few weeks but the same may not hold true for your tongue piercing.

Some tips to keep your tongue piercing from closing

· During the first six months of a new tongue piercing, DO NOT keep the piercing without jewelry. This may cause the hole to shrink or close up completely. Even after six months, a healed piercing may also close so don’t leave it empty for any length of time.
· If you must remove your tongue jewelry for any reason, use a retainer. A retainer will help to keep the piercing from closing. Since these are made from materials such as body colored acrylic ends or clear Lucite, it even helps to hide the piercing if need be.
· For people who engage in activity where tongue jewelry might be a hindrance, monofilament nylon, PTFE tongue retainer and other such kinds of inert metallic substances may prove useful in keeping the piercing open.
· Good aftercare of the piercing is essential. Maintain proper hygiene and during the healing period try not to put dirty things in your mouth, avoid kissing and also oral sex. This will reduce risk of infection so that you do not have to remove the tongue jewelry, which in turn will ensure that your piercing does not close.

If you did not like your tongue piercing and wanted it to close, then here are some ways which you can use to try and close the piercing properly.

· While in the shower, try massaging your tongue around the piercing so that the hot water can aid in breaking up the scar tissue and allowing new skin to grow.
· Vitamin E oil applied on the hole once a day at bedtime may also prove useful.
· If the piercing hasn’t closed after a week, try using some Cortisone cream on it.

Lastly, in case your piercing does close (especially if you did not want it to) don’t fret. Go get another one!

Disclaimer: The materials on the AllPiercings.com web site are presented for informational purposes only, and are not intended as a substitute for professional dental / medical advice, and accordingly you should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.