How Long Does It Take for a Tongue Piercing to Heal

Whitney is an expert on piercings and tattoos, with experience in the body modification world.

Here's how to heal your tongue piercing properly.

GorillaWare

Tongue Piercing Basics

Tongue piercings are one of the more popular piercings—they're easy to heal and simple to conceal. In general, getting the piercing is relatively pain-free, depending on your tolerance. The level of pain varies for each person.

Swelling

Your tongue will swell for about 8 to 10 days after the initial piercing; the amount of swelling will depend on how far back the piercing is placed (the further back the piercing, the more swelling).

Eating and Speaking

For the first few days, you won't be able to eat solid foods or talk properly.

Jewelry

The initial jewelry used will be longer to accommodate the swelling. They usually use a straight barbell that's 16 to 18mm long that is either surgical steel or titanium (you get to choose the color). Titanium is best since some people are allergic to surgical steel; your piercer should tell you what allergic reactions to look for.

Once the swelling goes down, the long bar will be switched out for a shorter one. They make the shorter ones in other materials, like gold plated steel or acrylic. After the piercing has healed, you can consider using a labret stud or a tongue retainer when you need to hide your piercing.

Things to Avoid While Your Tongue Is Healing

The swelling should subside after a couple weeks, at which time these activities can be renewed.
What to Avoid	Why
Eating solid, acidic, sticky, spicy foods.	They might hurt!
Excessive talking.	You may stretch or tear. Plus, you'll sound funny!
Kissing and any kind of oral activity with girlfriends/boyfriends.	Bacteria threaten healing.
Sticking anything in your mouth, including fingers, pens, etc.	Same as above.
Smoking.	Same as above.
Experimenting with jewelry.	There will be plenty of time to play after it's healed.

The Stages of the Healing Process, Day by Day

After piercing, your tongue generally takes from three to four weeks to fully heal. This is one of the fastest-healing piercings, as the enzymes in your saliva help fight infection and kill bacteria.

You'll need to use a good non-alcoholic mouthwash to help clean your mouth, but be careful not to over-clean, which can cause your tongue to turn green or brown. If this happens, just reduce the amount of mouthwash you use and how often you use it.

Days 1-5

After the first day, you'll experience swelling. The worst of it will be during the first five days when your speech will be hindered, and you may have to alter your diet to mashed potatoes, noodles, and other soft foods. Drinking cold drinks helps.

For quicker healing, you should avoid drinking alcohol or hot drinks, smoking, kissing, fiddling with or even touching the barbell, and ibuprofen and aspirin (which can both increase swelling—use Tylenol instead).

Days 5-7

The swelling will start to reduce. Some people recover more quickly than others.

Days 7-10

Swelling should go down by now. When it does, you'll need to have the barbell replaced with a shorter one. The day when you can replace the long barbell for a shorter one will depend on the amount of swelling you experience.

Days 10-28

It can take 3 to 4 weeks to fully heal.

When Can I Take the Jewelry out of My Tongue and for How Long?

The answer to this question varies from person to person. Tongues heal fast, and even if the piercing is technically healed, it will also heal shut if you leave the jewelry out for an extended period.

Some piercings might heal closed almost immediately, after a day or so, while others with well-established piercings say that they can go without jewelry for up to three weeks without worry.

How to Reduce the Healing Time of a Tongue Piercing

Keep the Swelling Down

Drink ice-cold drinks, preferably water.

Keep It Clean

This includes cleaning not only the piercing site but your whole mouth.

Brush at least twice a day.
Gargle and rinse after every meal, after you drink something other than water, when you first wake up, and before you go to bed.
Use a nonalcoholic and fluoride-free antibacterial mouthwash or a glass of water with a teaspoon of sea salt (not iodized table salt!) dissolved in it.

Warning Signs of Infection: What to Look For

While you're healing, you may experience the following issues, but don't worry as they will stop once the piercing is fully healed:

You'll have an excess amount of saliva, which will cause you to swallow more.
The taste buds on the end of your tongue may be tender, and you may experience tingling or burning.
You may experience tenderness on the top of your tongue where the ball makes a depression, and on the lower webbing area.
You may notice white fluids excreted by the wound where the piercing is healing, as the dead white blood cells are leaving your body. Normally, the dead blood cells would form a scab, but the saliva in your mouth won't allow a scab to form.

When to See a Doctor

Swelling. Swelling is normal, especially in the first five days, but if it seems excessive, gets worse, or impedes talking or swallowing, seek treatment.
Redness or red streaks. Especially if accompanied by swelling, pain, or fever, this could be a sign of inflammation and infection.
Bleeding. If it seems excessive or won't stop.
Discoloration and discharge. If your tongue looks greenish, purple, yellow, or black, or if you notice any pus or discharge from the piercing, these are signs of infection.

FAQs About the Healing Process of Tongue Piercings

How long does it take for it to stop hurting?

Usually, the pain accompanies the swelling, so as soon as the swelling goes down, your pain should subside.

How long will the swelling last?

For most people, the swelling may last a couple days or up to two weeks.

What are the signs of infection I should be looking for?

Excessive swelling, pain, or bleeding that does not reduce after a couple weeks; red streaks or discoloration on the tongue; discharge or pus.

How long until I can take the jewelry out for an hour or more?

After a month of healing, you're probably healed enough to start experimenting with jewelry, but remember that since heal times vary, you'll need to experiment carefully to know how long you can go without any jewelry at all.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Allure on May 03, 2020:

Hey, I have had my piercing or atleast 20 yrs? Anyway, i lost my ball so since this Corona business i cant replace it so quickly. I used my labret jewelry n within a week my tongue has healed over it? What should i do?

Jewlz on March 18, 2020:

I got my snake eye piercing at the tip of my tongue on Friday. It still hurts. I woke up and its bleeding kind of alot. Is this normal??

Lady E on March 06, 2020:

How do i know when the swelling is going down wat are the signs of it going down please

King on February 22, 2020:

My snake eyes was bleeding is it infected

Amy on November 17, 2019:

Ive had my tongue piercing for several years now with no problems. I decided i wanted to explore the jewlery, so i ordered a new surgical steel tongue ringue smaller than my first. After a couple days my tongue became red & irratated.i dont quiet understand .is this infection?? After all these years? Or is this normal when changing out rings??

Bubble on October 25, 2019:

What ray asked

Ray on October 15, 2019:

Ik had my tongue pierced on Saturday12th October

And there is white pus at the bottom of my tongue is this normal? and it still hurts is this also normal?

Skyler M Arnold on October 07, 2019:

I got my rounge pierced on Thursday and today is now monday. Yesterday, sunday, i started getting a sore throat. Mildly hurts to swallow. Toung peircing itself looks fine and swelling has started to go down. There is redness underneath where the bar sits. Im just a lottle concerned.

It's normal on September 19, 2019:

Everything y'all are going through is normal.

Mashed potatoes on August 26, 2019:

I've had my tongue piercing for 15 days now and I still have a lisp. How long does this last and is it normal?

sincity1993 on August 08, 2019:

I've had my tongue pierced for about 8 weeks, it's completely healed with absolutely no pain. No swelling and I've changed the bar but there's a hard white lump right next to the hole where the piercing comes out on one side, what should I do ?

glory on August 07, 2019:

i have a white bump on the front of mine too, i have also been cleaning properly and the swelling is going down plus it doesn't hurt much at all, should i he worried?

Rae on July 19, 2019:

I got my tongue pierced on tuesday its now friday, (day3) and i have a small white lump on the front base of my tongue bar but have been cleaning it properly and consistently, is this normal?

Kiera on July 14, 2019:

I got my tounge done nine days ago and there is a yellow whity coat on the top of my tounge is it infected ?

Shelby on July 06, 2019:

It's been two weeks as of today I have like a clear or white ring around the bottom of my tounge ring is it good it looks like a bump too but nothing is coming out of it is it just helling

Lashe on July 02, 2019:

I Got My Tongue Pierced last Thursday and it's still very swollen is that normal I feel like it was pierced with the wrong ring

Teigan on June 08, 2019:

I've had my tongue pierced for three days now and my tongue has become green is this normal

Seth on June 07, 2019:

Tongue suddenly started getting an orange coat on top imediatly after getting a double tongue piercing. 5 days in and now its nearly coated the entire top of tongue

tahlia morritt on June 06, 2019:

my tounge peicing has a hard spot around it and i got it peiced in february and it's now june! it hasn't gone away, anything i can do to help this ? and it's only a little bit sore when i move it backwards

Lois on June 01, 2019:

I love my new look! My healing process is going well. It's just that it's my 10th day and my tongue is still white. What do I do? Help please.....

Anthonysorel on May 29, 2019:

I just got my tongue pierced on Thursday, it is now Wednesday (day 6). I notice that the tip of my tongue burns and a bit tender especially when I have to eat or drink something. This happen right after I gargle warm salt water yesterday.& still the pain is there, I need quick relief; this pain is annoying me. Please, help with any suggestions.

Koko on May 26, 2019:

Day 7 after getting my tongue pierced. So this morning I woke up and decided to change my my tongue ring. The barbel was too long, it was resting against my bottom gums and was making them raw.

I changed it from surgical steel to a bio plastic. So far so good!

Kiana on May 26, 2019:

I got my snake eyes piercing done again yesterday, definitely hurt a lot this time because of scar tissue. Its still very tender today. Should i be worried? The tip is very very sore, cant eat anything, it hurts to brush my teeth because when i go to spit, my tongue wants to stretch..lol this is normal though, right? Especially for day 2?

Koko on May 24, 2019:

I got my tongue pierced 4 days ago, the swelling has gone down and back to eating normal food, nothing spicy.

The swelling was bad the first two days, took ibuprofen and it really helped.

Can't wait to change this long ass barbell, it's annoying.

Sanvannah on May 23, 2019:

I got mine done on Tuesday and it's not Thursday I have white ball of puss im guessing under my tongue I brush and use mouth wash like she said is it infected???

Jay on May 19, 2019:

Is frog eyes piercing suppose to sink in your by the 3rd day?

Eam on May 18, 2019:

Can you get tongue piercing during the first trimester of your pregnancy?

Sam on May 16, 2019:

Got my tongue pierced on Wednesday (it's now Friday) so I'm on day 3 (well I guess you could say day 2.5 as I had it done Wednesday afternoon), and so far so good I think. I have a 16mm titanium barbell and got a bit concerned that it was indenting too much at the top, but after reading this article and seeing the pics, I'm not worried. I also have kind of a bubble underneath my tongue which I'm keeping an eye on, but it has reduced, so not too worried!

Hannah on May 12, 2019:

I just got my tongue done on Saturday and there's blisters on the tip of my tongue. Is that normal?

anonymous on May 09, 2019:

got my tonguere-pierced Tuesday and I must say in my opinion the worst for me was the night of getting it I took some Tylenol which helped and by the third day (today) I don't have much pain. Everyone experiences pain in their own way, but if you've been dreaming about getting it done then go for it.

Hope on May 08, 2019:

I REALLY want to get this, but I'm terrified because all of the ear piercings I have had got infected even with everyday care. I'm very prone to infection and I don't know what to do.

Tiffany on May 02, 2019:

I got my tongue pierced a couple days ago. I have a small, hard lump in my tongue by my barbell. It hurts to the touch and when the ball hits it, it stings like a sore taste bud. Is this normal?

Sabrina on April 29, 2019:

I recently had my tongue pierced and only ones side of my tongue and neck hurts. Is that normal?? My neck hurts when i move that side of my tongue

Anonymous on April 23, 2019:

So I have had my tongue piercing out for about a month or two and I'm considering getting it redone but there is something like a little lump in my tongue and I was wondering should I still get it re done if that lumps is there and also what does that lump mean

Gloria on April 11, 2019:

Hi, i Made my tongue piercing 3 days ago and the bottom of my mouth is very paifull....is that normal?

Lottiee on April 09, 2019:

Just had snake eyes done and it's gone blue is that normal?

J on February 05, 2019:

So you want your tongue pierced?

Got mines done 4 days ago, and the swelling has decreased fairly quickly. I give it another two days and it should be back to normal

Size. I've already gotten a tattoo, nose piercing two cartilage pericings in addition to a industrial piercing.

My tongue hurt the least out of all. I would say the pain was a 2 out of 10. Your tongue is a muscle so it doesn't have the same amount of nerve endings as your skin. I could feel the needle going in but surprisingly there was no pain, just felt the movement of the needle. (My piercer did it from the bottom up) feeling the needle poke through the top

Of my tounge was when I felt I slight pinch, but that was bearable. I didn't flinch the entire time. You'll scare yourself thinking about how painful it is, and then realize when it happens that it's actually easy, quick and basically painless.

The nose hurt the most, second most painful was industrial , cartridge was third, tattoo virtually painless (which I got on mychest area) and the tongue was a breeze! Easily my most favorite too!

I brushed my teeth twice a day as normal, drank lots of water and let crushed ice sit on my tongue at least 3 times a day. I also ate soft foods and avoided alcohol. I took Tylenol one - two times a day for the first 3 days Alone work Amoxicillin that I never used from a possiblebacterial infection, just to be safe it might have help my piercing heal quicker.

The soreness and pain was so minimal after the first 24 hours, now it's looking amazing.

Don't do what I did in taking Amoxicillin though, even though it fights infection/ prevents any. Always ask a doctor & chances are they will tell you unless the piercing is infected you don't need to take medication unnecessarily.

I was being over cautious with the Amoxicillin, but my lymph node under my right jaw ended up getting swollen for the first three days after the piercing which is a sign that your body is fighting an infection. Swollen lymph nodes in that area, even the neck is a natural reaction to the piercing since your body is responding to is as a forgien object being detected in you.

Other than all that, don't be scared! Get it! You'll love it! I babe 4 more piercings to go !

Countrygirl on February 05, 2019:

Hey, got my tongue done Friday 1st Feb. I can't eat much, mainly been on soup and soft food, it does hurt sometimes especially when I play with it but your not actually meant to do that but I just love it. I still smoke which you shouldn't but if your thinking you can't, by all means you can just keep your tongue clean and fresh before and after as it may irritate some. I haven't tried alcohol yet which Im sure I will soon but too nervous at the moment

Xd4 on January 07, 2019:

Just got my venoms done yesterday I can't eat anything

Blondie on December 20, 2018:

Getting mine done today. Nervous and excited at the same time. Hopefully the swelling isn't bad. Got my nose done 2 years ago and was able to change it out less than 2 weeks. Hoping its the same way with the tongue

Hey on October 15, 2018:

I have got a little small ring around mine but don't hurt or anything

JFK5 on October 14, 2018:

Got a piercing about 8 days ago. I can not see my ball at the bottom but i can feel it and i see a white hole . Does this mean the ball has moved out of the hole.

shelby on October 07, 2018:

I've had my tongue piercing for one month tomorrow and there is a white/yellow stuff coming out of it is this bad or what please tell me

F J on October 01, 2018:

Hi, its day 4 from my tounge pericing and somehow i cant see the lower part of my tiunge ring its like its covered with white skin is this normal??

Red on September 01, 2018:

Just got mine 2day at 1st it wasnt as painful got it done at 7pm wake up at 3am and tounge swells but put ice on it and mouthwaah helped alot other than not being able to really eat and moderate pain/swelling its not bad and i smoke 420 to help with pain going try biotene and h20 spray so it heals faster

Zahara on August 31, 2018:

I had my tongue pierced 2 weeks ago and I have a white circle around my tongue bar underneath is this good or bad

monique on August 30, 2018:

what if u have experiencing throat sore and jaws hurting after the piercing. can this be bad for me? and also my peircing sometimes feels dry. please help me

Lee on August 29, 2018:

I got mine done three days ago but another piercer had to change the barbell because the original piercer put one that was too small in and the original bar was titanium and now that the surgical steel is in it's itching. Is that normal ?

Whateverver on August 23, 2018:

I got mine afew days ago and wanted to know how long I have to wait to make out with my boyfriend and to know if it will hurt or be annoying also wanted to know if I will ever be able to chew properly

Lizzy on August 21, 2018:

Only one side of my tongue hurts i'm not sure if it's my tongue vain or muscle hurting it feels like it is cramping up and streching and pulling something r u sure that is normal it still feels like that one side is still swollen a little bit and it hurts really bad i wish it would stop this is day 5 after having my tongue pierced has any one else had this feeling before or was i just pierced all wrong

Not important on August 21, 2018:

I had minee done about 4 days ago its basically heald i have no pain right after i had it done i ate frozen yogurt my pearcing is fine i feel fine m tong is not swollen at all and i can twist the barbell aroud without experiancing any pain

Autumn on August 13, 2018:

So i got my tongue peirced about a month ago and i had the long barbell in until just recently because i have noticed over time that a large bump has formed around the hole and barbell. Is it normal for that bump to form??

Savannah on August 04, 2018:

I just got mine done yesterday and there is yellow discharge is that good or bad??

Scarlett on July 28, 2018:

How long to wait minimum to change tongue piercing for the first Time

Brianna on July 28, 2018:

i got my tongue done yesterday and i really don't experience any pain. taking aspirin helps a lot with the swelling as well as ice.

Jeanine titus on July 23, 2018:

I did my tongue piercing today i often gargle salt water i am doing good and staying away from dairy products a little swollen but i can speak .

Shannon on July 07, 2018:

I got my tongue pierced on Tuesday for my birthday, swelling gone down a little bit but there is a hard lump around the barbell, is this normal and will it go away?

Raven Watson on July 06, 2018:

I just got mine tuesday but it has a small white bump in the fromt of the piercing , Is that normal?

xoxo on July 01, 2018:

Got mine pierced 3 days ago and it is still swollen. The pain comes and goes. But i got some white pus sometimes releasing? Is that normal.

Pam on July 01, 2018:

I just got my tongue pierced 2 days ago , and it's releasing a light lime green pus, is that normal?

Jean on June 30, 2018:

I just got mines done on Thursday n I have white stop on both ends of it is that normal?

Rebecca on June 04, 2018:

I got my tongue pierced a week ago on Saturday was wondering if it was normal for it to still swell and hurt and it's has also been draining white milky stuff to a light yellow should I be worried

Shannon Shaffer on May 31, 2018:

My piercing is 6 days old. I was told not to eat dairy because of the live cultures in it. I forgot and ate yogurt. My tongue swelled up immediately and has been so sore ever since. It is white in the back, and kinda hard red in the front. It looks like my whole is stretching and swallowing up the ball. The bottom is even sore now. Is this normal?

Rebecca on May 31, 2018:

My tounge piercing is 6 days old now is it normal to have a little pain more uncomfortable

Lisa on May 21, 2018:

I had tongue pieced yesterday I'm living off yoguct and water . Can't talk properly now and ball at bottom is irritation and causing mouth ulcer is this normal

Jenny on May 15, 2018:

Is it normal for hard swelling around tongue piercings sight after 6 days from initial piercing?

Leanly on April 26, 2018:

So ive had my tongue pierced for 5 days know the swelling has went down its still a little sore but it looks like my tonge is swollowing the balls yall thank i should give it a couple more days before i take it out because i dont want a huge hole in my tonge someone help me please....ps i already love it doe

Ash on April 05, 2018:

I got mine pierced 2 days ago. My tongue is white, dry and the top ball has created a crater to keep in place. The only thing that bothers me is how dry my mouth is. Is this normal!?

Eli on April 04, 2018:

I got my tongue vertically pierced 6 days ago. It is the fourth time I got the piercing. This time she did it a bit more forward then the previous Ive had. I was able to eat and speak fine. I find myself having a white discharge under the direct abrasion under my tongue. The discharge becomes like a little bump. I remove it with a dental tool. I do clean regularly and rinse with mouthwash. I do smoke the green. I am experiencing soreness and a little redness.

Tara on March 13, 2018:

**update I done it I pushed it back thru took a bit of pushing but no blood and a little bit of swelling it's day 3 now tongue tender but looking good so far I had it out 8 years so surprised it went back in the pain is a stinging sensation and I got to the top hole I had to push hard til the bar popped through the skin and it was a loud pop so push I found holding my tongue either side thumb on bottom and guide it through as you push from the bottom and push down with ur fingers from the top I had to do this on either side then the final push was from bottom up xx

tara on March 09, 2018:

hi i had my tongue pierced in 2007 took it out 2009 i can get the tongue bar in the top a little bit and underneath a little bit it feels like inside is closed do i just push the bar through? when i had it done the piercer said i have a vein but he can go on an angle and miss it so do i follow the old piercing path? any advice? x

luchiana on February 23, 2018:

i got my tongue piercing done 1 week ago but i still can't talk normally ,when will i be able to talk normally again ?

Imogen on January 28, 2018:

I got my tongue done 2 days ago, after reading on this site I'm unsure of my situation. Mine piercing is further back and I think I was pierced with a 22mm bar, at first I wasn't sure on the size because it didn't look very long, it's now the second day having it and I think the top ball might be slightly sinking. My mouth is producing heaps of saliva and at first it was hard to swallow. Is this sign of infection and is there anyway of preventing the back from sinking as I don't want a small groove? Also if a groove appears can it go away or is it perminant?

betherz94 on January 26, 2018:

America yes its normal i have it too and mine was done a month ago 2 days ago i litterally just called my piercer and asked he said thats a good sign and its normal hope this helped! :)

America on January 24, 2018:

I got my done a month ago today and I have like a really weird hard fleshy ring around the bottom ball of my ring and idk if it's normal or not , there is no sign of infection but it'll hurt a little sometimes. It's hard to explain but it's a weird like fleshy ring that formed around the bottom ball.. it doesn't bother me but it looks horrible.. wonder if anyone else had the same issue. Ugh

Destiny on January 24, 2018:

I got mine done about 2 days ago and the bottom hurts a little and the top has a little red spot is this normal or do i need to go to the doctors

Joicelyn on January 21, 2018:

So I got my tongue pierced, on the 17th of January, I got the surface tongue piercing, but I noticed my piercer use a short bar, instead of a longer bar, is that a bad thing, should I be worried, when it heal can I change it to a long bar, or just get another short bar

Blue on January 18, 2018:

I got my tongue done three weeks ago,and changed the bar for the second time yesterday. Is it normal for slight pain right under the ball? It's not terrible,just uncomfortable

ShaeJames on January 14, 2018:

I got my tongue pierced 3 days ago and today when i woke up it was red at around my tongue piercing but doesn't cause pain is this normal ?

Breleigh on December 30, 2017:

Hi I got my tongue done 3 days ago and the top of my tongue is swollen and around the top of the piercing is yelling and a little bit white my mom said it's a scab but I don't know if anyone can give some advice it would be nice

Lysha on December 09, 2017:

I got my tongue pierced on Wednesday, and My diet hasnt changed, I can still eat what I used to but just slower, I caught my tongue in my food and ended up with like a lump in front of my tongue bar, the lump has disappeared but there's like a yellow goey thing now? Is Thisbe normal?

Gabrielle on December 05, 2017:

I got my tongue pierced a week ago and it's still discoloured behind the bar. Is this normal ?

Amber on October 09, 2017:

I just got the snake eyes yesterday And My Tongue swelled up but it swelled up worse than when I got my normal tongue pircing should I maybe try a little bigger bar?? My tongue seems to look like it's going to go over the balls ??

Morgan on September 23, 2017:

I had my tongue pierced 3-4 months ago and just lately when I wake up my tongue goes a bit swollen and I carnt move my tongue bar what she'll i do ???

Val on September 02, 2017:

I just got my tounge pirced and the back of my tounge is white there's no pus or anything what does that mean?

Have d on August 24, 2017:

When will my tounge stop being yellow

Alyjah on July 16, 2017:

If my tongue hasnt swollen up or hurt that bad on the first or second day is it a good or a bad thing?

Shelia Boudreau on July 10, 2017:

I had my tongue pierced about 2 weeks ago. This is my fourth time over the years. This time he did it a little further back. I think the swelling is down but my concern is I continue to have severe pain down the left side of my tongue? Is this not

Anon on May 28, 2017:

I got venom bites (2 tongue piercing side by side ) 3 days ago and there are dents where the piercing is. Is that normal?

Christal on May 24, 2017:

if you drink acids an it starts to hurt how to get rid of it

Elvia on May 22, 2017:

Is it normal for a small blister looking bump and puss on the bottom to pop up 2 weeks after getting it done and puss on top as well?

Liz on May 08, 2017:

I what do you do if you're tounge piercing looks yellow infected what can you do to help it

Hailey on April 25, 2017:

So I have had my tongue pierced twice now. For both of my experiences I had a white film cover over my tongue for about a week and a half, all I did was take a soft toothbrush and toothpaste without peroxide. I also rinsed out my mouth with warm water and SEA SALT (DO NOT use iodized salt, makes the tongue swell bigger and actually made my healing time lengthen). Cold drinks like slushes and even sucking on ice helped a ton.

Along with this, my taste buds were numb for about a day or two both piercing times, like I drank a hot drink a burned them. After that they became pretty sensitive. When I would wake up in the morning the left side my tongue would burn almost to the point I was in tears (this went on for about 7-10 days). I found that rinsing with the sea salt water asap and taking Tylenol (I wouldn't recommend aspirin or ibuprofen just because its a blood thinner and did make me bleed a few days after). Now the place I went to get my tongue pierced both times doesn't reschedule to put a shorter bar in so I replaced it myself about 2 to 3 weeks later. I would just replace it whenever your tongue isn't super sensitive and you can jerk it around a little, after all you're pushing something through your tongue and if its sensitive and in pain you don't want to feel that. Plus if your tongue is still getting swollen you can actually mess up your piercing.

Another thing is throughout the day, the more I talked and rinsed with sea salt water, the less swelling there was. In the morning my tongue was so bad that it looked and felt like a small balloon but after about an hour it went down to pretty normal (this is about days 4-7) and my talking started becoming much more understandable.

As well, if this is your first time getting your tongue pierced and you sound super funny when you talk, don't worry. Most people get lisps and sound funny for a few days after. I didn't even get my normal talking back until I switched out my bar since the one I got it pierced with was so long. But everyone is different.

If you have swollen taste buds, your tongue burns or is painful, its swollen, white and has an extreme amount of saliva production you're completely fine. The healing process for a tongue is about 4-6 weeks to feel normal. For AT LEAST 6 months don't let your bar out for more then an hour because IT WILL close. It doesn't "finalize" itself until 6 to 8 months.

The piercing itself on a tongue is the least painful piercing I have ever gotten but the healing of this piercing was the most painful. You're putting a needle through a muscle but the tongue is one of the fastest healing muscles in your body. You just have to remember its not used to a foreign object going through it so its going to get aggravated and annoyed. Plus you use your tongue every day, to eat, talk and more. Its not like piercing an ear that doesn't move all day.

Hope this helps! :*

Crystal zepeda on April 15, 2017:

I just got my tongue pierced on Friday and it hurts I'm afraid what if it gets worse I hope it gets better in a couple of weeks. Is it suppose to swell up after eating ice cream or anything cold????

Jasmine on April 09, 2017:

I just got my tongue pierced last Tuesday, the swelling has went down and I am able to change my bar without it causing any pain but my tongue muscle itself is still sore. I assume that is normal? But my tongue piercing looks to me to be sort of slanted and in front of the top ball there is like a "wall" where the skin on my tounge covers the front part of the ball, should I concerned?

Latoya on April 02, 2017:

I just got my tongue peirce is it alright for my tongue feel loser than it was when i got it

Madison on March 31, 2017:

Is it normal for the web to hurt a few hours after a tongue piercing?

Kady on March 31, 2017:

My tongue has been pierced for a month now and it's still swollen but less swollen than the first time... Is this normal

Answerplease on March 08, 2017:

I have a short tongue and I got it pierced 5 days ago it's still sore and sensitive but I noticed I can't get the bottom bar out of my mouth like others because of the way it was pierced I was thinking maybe a flexible bar or something or Is it always going to be like this ...

K on March 08, 2017:

Its been five days now since I've pierced my tongue and when am awake it has a burning sensation..... Is this normal?

How Long Does It Take for a Tongue Piercing to Heal

Source: https://tatring.com/piercing-types/Tongue-Piercing

Lampungmeiua Romme1969