Home : Health : Remedies : Mouth ulcers : Swollen Taste Bud, clip it off

Swollen Taste Bud, clip it off

Submitted by Karen Alexandre

This may sound crazy.. But if you have a swollen taste bud just take a sterilized nail clipper and clip it off. I know is sounds painful but it works. You can sterilize the nail clipper with rubbing alcohol. FYI, it would be best to use the smallest nail clipper you can find like and infant's nail clipper. Try to keep your mouth clean with "Glycerin" which you can find in any health food store. Just wrap a cotton ball on the tip of your finger and saturate the cotton ball with glycerin then clean all around your mouth (gums, teeth, tongue and cud-which is the walls of your mouth).

Visitors comments

Ouch Comments By: smitty

This sounds like a load of crap to me because it is swollen not bad...the swelling will go away in time if you cut it off then you are let with an open sore which always seem to take longer to heal

agree Comments By: rachel

i have to agree with the above poster - bad idea!!

that is what I do Comments By: anon

I always clip off my swollen taste buds when they happen. It hurts more to have the little thing bumping against my teeth. The little spot left is about the size of a point of a pencil.

I do this to Comments By: Dionne

It really does hurt more to leave it alone. Once you clip it off it doesn't hurt anymore and the resulting wound isn't even noticeable.

Guilty also Comments By: Anon

I've got a really high pain threshold and these little devils hurt like crazy. I've experimented with letting them stay or just using a tweezers to pull out or a pin to open and relieve the pressure. The sharp pain goes away instantly and the tongue heals really fast.

Great idea . . . if you want an infection to boot! Comments By: Krista

NEVER "clip" ANYTHING out or off of your tongue! Your mouth is loaded with bacteria and to intentionally cause an open wound is setting up the perfect environment in which to contract an infection. Just use some oral pain relievers and wait it out. It should go away in several days - if it lasts longer than 7-10 days, I recommend seeing an oral pathologist.

I've done this for years! Comments By: Renee

I do this and feel relief almost immediately. It hurts less right after the taste bud is removed than it did while swollen. Of course the process of taking it off hurts, but after it's gone I find I never think of it again, because it's no longer a distraction! No longer in pain! :-)

Totally Just Did It! Comments By: brittany

I did it for my first time just after reading this article because i had a giant taste bud and it has been anoying me for years. it worked great for me, i used nail clippers, do it fast, its a LOT easier. after the nail clippers i washed my mouth down with listerine and you cant even tell it was ever there!!

clipping it off works Comments By: Laura

I get swollen taste buds too. I've tried gargling with listerine, using numbing cream, salt solutions etc. nothing works. Sometimes these things last for days and days and they are horrible! Cutting it off hurts like so mildly compared to the pain you feel by not cutting it off. i recommend sterilizing nail clippers then gargling with listerine afterwards. it feels better almost instantly

Be Rite Back Comments By: Christi

IM about to try it!

I WAS skeptical.... Comments By: Andrea RN

... but now a believer. I had an annoying one in the middle of my tongue that didn't go away after a week, and decided to clip it. I rinsed my mouth with mouthwash, sterilized the clippers, dried the area with a washcloth, then clipped. It hurt for a split second, then I held pressure with the washcloth for a few minutes to stop the small amount of bleeding. It instantly felt better. And it didn't get infected or anything, just went away! Problem solved!

Yeah it works Comments By: BadBud

LOL actually I've done this a number of times myself and just thought maybe I'd google it for once before clipping another. Tiny bit of bleeding, but the relief is instant.

swollen taste bud Comments By: anon

I took a pair of tweezers pulled it out pain was gone instantly.

It's you or the Dr. Comments By: Dr. J

My mother feels the same as the others (who have never done it) and wanted the Dr. to look at it. He cuts it off right there in the office. I had one and wanted to save the trip and the shot, so I bit mine off with my front teeth. I liked this approach becuase you naturally bite when you feel pain so you just keep on biting until it's off. THE PAIN WAS GONE INSTANTLY! No problems after that and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch. To all those who think the lose of one taste bud is damaging, you must not know you lose hundreds of taste buds over the later years of life.

Weird but great idea! Gonna try it next time! Comments By: Jen

I cause these bumps in the back of my mouth by biting down while I'm asleep. (What's THAT about?) You'd never suspect this would help, but if the doc was going to charge me a bunch to do the same thing, it's going to be me!
As many taste buds as we have, I betcha we'd be okay, but it's curious - I wonder if they can grow back???

I did it last night before even finding this article Comments By: anon

I had a big swollen taste bud on the tip of my tongue that has been there for 2 to 3 months. I couldn't take it any more and last night I clipped it off with sterilized clippers. I researched it this morning, and that's how I found this article. Thought I was kind of crazy for cutting it off.Glad to know others did it to with no bac results.

I've been doing it for 18 years Comments By: Roy

I first did it out of severe annoyance after the third time getting one and yes, the pain stops within an hour. I've been doing it for 18 years now.

I am a professional piercer and I know for a FACT, you will not get an infection so long as you sterilize the clipper and only cut the bud off. The hole left is only .4mm big. And since it bleeds instantly, nothing gets in. Also the mouth is the fastest healing part of the body and your taste buds grow back, so don't worry about losing taste. The people who are screaming abou tinfection are the same kind of overreactive idiots who think cars explode in every accident.

mine hurt bad.......really bad Comments By: mommiez

ok so i just got my tounge pierced and omg my taste buds are really swollen big time and its alot of them hopefully it goes down though because the pain is killing me my brother had the same problem maybe once my tounge swelling goes down these will be less painful....oh and i have too much swollen ones to just sit there and pick em off lol theres alot!!!

Who knows Comments By: Tony B

I just tried it. Clipping them off hurt like heck, but it doesnt feel irritated anymore, just sore, which is nice. So i THINK it worked.

Cut it or suffer Comments By: Arabianbarbie

I check the stats ..Now Im convience.

Don't be scared Comments By: Jessie Steele

I get them too often either from biting my tounge or eating to many sunflower seeds, eat to many and you'll see.
Take the bud out and it bleeds to keep germs out, its not like a pore that collects bacteria. It does work.
stop biting and eating sunflower seeds.

totally works ! Comments By: SAMii

i have been doing this for yearscuz the swollen taste bud is sucha pain in the ass to deal with ! especially on the side of the tongue where i tend to get them ! as a matter of a fact i just did it today & its fine ! so as someone who has their tongue pierced (my second time having it) i can deal with a lil quick tongue pain thats gone in a matter of seconds. & there is absolutely no way to get it infected (unless ur dirty) since the mouth heals itself so for all the assholes callin the believers retarts i hope u get one on the side of ur mouth & lets see what u do ! cuz the doctor is just gonna cut it off themselves anyway ! save an expensive trip there & do it urself & heck if it makes u feel better boil the instrament u use !

sweet relief Comments By: Whitney

The only thing I would add, is that I numb the area before I clip it, and I use cuticle clippers, which pinch and seal the tissue at the base of the bud. It produces immediate relief.

I'd like to se what her tongue looks like Comments By: Erik

It might work the first couple of times, but f the problem is re-ocurring, I guess just clip and clip until you have little a "nub" left for a tongue. LOL

ok... Comments By: Kit

yeah, this does work. however, for anyone who doesn't want the ain of it, use numbing stuff like oragel, or just rinse your mouth out with warm salt water.

Another Way Comments By: Timmer

I've never tried the clipping or pinching method. I just put some listerine in my mouth and hold that area of the tongue in the listerine for a minute or so. It relieves the pain but not completely. But after two or three more applications within a day it is usually completely healed or restored to normal.

Do Not Do This. Comments By: Loveless

You should not cut off your taste buds, it is easier to get an in fection. I suggest you wait a day or two for them to heal, if they don't heal within a week go to your doctor.

Clip Them Off Comments By: Shar

I have clipped off both bad taste buds big as a pea and also saliva glands inside my lower lip. Good results the dang things are gone! My Doctor wouldn't touch the one on my tongue said it was flat and going nowhere. But one day it got burned and infected. I could not wait. Out come the slant nail clippers. Hooray for me. Better immediately. Healed in less than a week. The tongue really bleed so get it done right quick as you can.

Clip Them Off Comments By: Shar

I have clipped off both bad taste buds big as a pea and also saliva glands inside my lower lip. Good results the dangs things are gone! My Doctor wouldn't touch the one on my tongue said it was flat and going nowhere. But on day it got burned and infected. I could not wait. Out come the slant nail clippers. Hooray for me.

Clip it! Clip it good! Comments By: Blair RN

I agree with the piercer! Clipping off a taste bud is nowhere near the trauma of a tongue piercing and I dont think I have ever heard of an infected tongue ring. Look at it this way, if you have a huge white head on your face do you leave it because in a few days it will heal itself and popping it might make it infected? Probably not! You pop that sucker! This is the same concept. Yes your mouth is filled with bacteria, but they are bacteria your body is used to, its YOUR MOUTH!!! So unless you have a habit of eating poop or decaying animals you will not become septic and die, or even get ANY infection for that matter!

ouch ahhhhh Comments By: amy

i just tried this and i bled like crazy
but it does feel better, just hope I dont get an infection

Never thought to use clippers... Comments By: Brittany

I get swollen taste buds from time to time and they drive me insane. Depending on the mood (like if I'm having a masochistic streak lol), I leave it alone. But most of the time they get so horribly distracting. Instead of paying attention in class, I'm sitting there biting my tongue. I've tried everything from gurgling salt water (which did nothing) to leaving it be. Truly, nothing helps but getting rid of it. I've only ever pulled a few off before because it takes more pressure with tweezers. I'll have to try my baby brother's clippers now and see if that works any better.

I tried this myself... Comments By: sarah

The last time I had one of these, it lasted 2 weeks and i did not want to go throught that again.
I used the advice on this site, and used naile clippers to cut it off. the problem was, I cut off the wrong one, thn the tongue was bleeding so I couldn't see the one that needed to be cut off.
After 3 tires, I feel better. My advie is to use twezers to hold the bud out before cutting to make sure oyu get the right one. or try small scissors.

On my way!! Comments By: ~ L

I am going to cut mine off right now!! I can hardly wait it is driving me insane!

i just did it! Comments By: yatzy

I just did it! It really didn't hurt at all. It feels so much better! I couldn't sleep it hurt so bad.

THIS WORKS!!! Comments By: Anon

Do this and you will have instant relief! I have been doing it for over 20 years and have NEVER, EVER had any sort of infection or problem. I don't even numb the area. I just quickly clip it and return to normal. I get these every single time I eat potato chips. Weird!

had one today Comments By: simplyseductive

i woke up and it hurt like crazy, a kept moving it to get it comfortable. by the end of the school day i just had to borrow a mirror and get it. since mine was on the tip of my tongue i just pulled it off. never thught of clippers. maybe next time.

Thought I was the only one Comments By: J

I have been biting off, tweezing off and eventually became smart and began clipping off these swollen taste buds. I get them right on the tip of my tongue and they irritate the crap out of me. I cant concentrate! Once they are gone, it's heaven! I have never gotten an infection, I just rinse with peroxide or listerine and its ok. Try it, really! You wont be sorry!

just tried it Comments By: Alexandra

omg the pain goes away right after you clip it off! i feel so relieved lol, this thing's been annoying me for days. just make sure to kinda bring it up and then snip it off quickly and effectively so you don't snip ya tongue! so happy 0:)

Oregano Oil Comments By: Looking4Cures

Put a drop of organo oil on it. You might need to do it two or three times over the course of a couple of days but it will be gone in a couple days.

clippy clip Comments By: Jesse Crawford

Numb and clip with fingernail/cuticle clippers and by the time the numbing med is worn off you dont even notice much, if any, pain. Clean your clippers first since who knows what bacteria is growing underneath fingernails. I use alcohol and swab clippers with q-tips on all parts of the blades.

retarded Comments By: Rebekah

so maybe people should look at the anatomy of a tongue. the swollen "taste buds" are in fact actually papillae of the tongue. It is a type of skin layer not the actual taste bud! so if you want to clip off your papillae on your tongue then thats fine but its not the taste bud!

This Totally Works Comments By: Dave

I just did it today 12/29/08 and it didn't hurt to do and the pain was gone almost instantly.

OMG! Comments By: Crystal

Totally just tried it and now it hurts more than it did before! And the pain is not subsiding! This is a load!

YOUR TASTE BUDS GROW BACK Comments By: Anon

Clipping a swollen taste bud really improves the overall health and feeling in your mouth. And if your afraid that you won't be able to taste again, then your just a retard. I actually was stupid enough to stick my tongue to a pole a rip part of it off. it healed in about 3 days and my taste buds are currently growing back. It's a slow process, but i lost a whole lotta taste buds. So if your worried about one little taste bud, really you don't need to fret.

i just did it! Comments By: liz

it worked and the pain of cutting it off wasnt that bad. woohoo!

YES, clip! Comments By: Tabitha

I was a sceptic also, but the pain was bothersome enough to try it. I recommend using Vicks Chloriseptic spray (for sore throats) and spraying it right on the taste bud first. It numbed my tongue right up and I didn't feel a thing when I clipped it.

this is stupid Comments By: B

I tried this a few years ago and I made it worse. I couldn't put my tongue back in my mouth cause I constantly had to keep air on it...that's how bad it hurt. There's no point in doing this when it'll go down within a week or so. Just buy some numbing stuff and put it on there.

I do this Comments By: Jill

My husband thinks I'm crazy, but I've been doing this for years!! I just pinch the offending taste bud between two fingernails. The pain stops immediately. I've never had an infection. It bleeds a little.. then it's over!!!

Tried It, Didn't Even Feel it, Comments By: Tayler

I was really amazed, because I have a very low pain tolerance. The thing was so painful, and I decided I had to get rid of it. I was literally shaking when I went to take it off, and when I closed the clippers I wondered if there was a gap in them because I didn't feel anything. Pulled them out and there went the nasty little bugger. I feel so much better!

YEAH SO IT SWELLS Comments By: Jeff Riecken

OKAY, YOU HAVE TEN THOUSAND TASTE BUDS. SAY YOU CLIP A FEW HUNDRED PER YEAR. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOU WON'T TASTE SH*!. SORRY, I'M NOT READY TO START MIXING MY FOOD YET.

WORKS!!! Comments By: Kim

This does work. Want no pain apply orajel or kanka to it wait 5 min. Cut off with steralized small sewing scissors or baby or small nail clippers. Rinse with listerine and or salt water. It will bleed for short time. Instant relief. And when people say anything about how you shouldnt use steralized clippers ect. I tell them people put worse things in their mouth!

havent tried it yet Comments By: cisco505

does it really work?

Wake up... it works fine. Comments By: Joe

Been doing this stuff forever. Cutting them off with sanitized clippers works GREAT. The pain goes from a ten down to a three.It is WAY WAY less painful to cut them off then to leave them. You people who are talking about infection and pain have clearly never had this problem or have never tried this solution. VERDICT: It Works.

R U CRAZY MAN Comments By: anon

DUDE that sounds really painfull and i have done a reaserch project on the tounge and it is only swollen cus u have had to much salt or u bit it. DO NOT cut it off you will loose thousands of taste buds cus the little bumps are papilie again DO NOT your are hurting your self

Nail clippers are for little girls Comments By: Waddlebottom

I'm old school - I use my WWII bayonet to scape off the invader, then feed it to the cat.

Unbelieveable controversy - small problem Comments By: DEXTER

Just goes ta show ya - there's always two sides to the coin. I just leave mine alone and they go away. Small problem, no worries.

One Now Comments By: NAY

IM HAVE A TASTE SWOLLWEN BUD IN MY MOUTH RITE NOW. IM WONDERING IF I SHOULD YOU THE CLIPPERS. I THINK I WOULD CUT OFF TOO MUCH.

Poked & clipped it! Comments By: Bunsai Bunny

I sterilized a pin and poked the swelling, took it down a bit and then I clipped it off! It bleed the smallest amount and then stopped. The pain that I was having went away, it is slightly sensative, but not like it was. It feels so much better now! If you do try this be careful too only clip the tip, or you could clip more then expected, giving you the feeling of biting your tongue! Good luck & I hope ya feel better! :-)

cut it off!! Comments By: Marie

I have been clipping my swollen taste buds off for years.....never had an infection or problem, and the pain relief is always instantaneous!! You can rinse with Listerine afterwards if it makes you feel better, but it won't get infected, unless you are lopping off half your tongue instead of just a taste bud!!

Been doing this for years Comments By: Dehumanized Dead Girl

In my family we call these "lie bumps" we were told if you lie you get them. I have them all the time! Mainly from meds I take. They are so painfull! and all day long I am picking at it with my teeth. So, one day I took a needle and poked it until it bled! Bad idea right? Well, the damn little thing went away overnight, after being there for three weeks! Now, I take clean tweezers to 'em and pop em like zits and AHHH! instant relief! I talked to my doctor about this and she said, thought most doctors would say " DO NOT DO THAT! " she said since there is no medical thing she can due to ease the discomfort, to go ahead and do what makes it feel better. Just gargle everyday afterward with an antibacterial mouthwash to ward off infection. So..Clip, pop, squeeze, bite away!

ouch Comments By: Jessica

i had mine for like several months, it never hurt it was just REALLY annoying so i just clipped it off.. it's gone but now my tongue hurts. =[

Never had a problem with it. Comments By: Sarah

I've had a burned tongue for more than a week with a tastebud ready to come off but it hasn't been, and the pain has been unbearable. I find that tweezers work better than clippers because I always tend to nip myself in places I don't mean to, and tweezers are more adjustable.

I just place the head of the tweezer over the bud, make sure it's on right, and then I don't think about it for a moment so my tongue relaxes and I just suddenly jerk my arm away, and the bud comes clean off with no problem and half a second of pain. It bled for about a minute and then stopped. I've done this before, too. :)

Clip it off! Comments By: Shania

I have always just cliiped the damn things off! If I leave them, they like, take 2 weeks to go away, if I just use steralized nailclippers, Buh-bye! The pain leaves instantly. I had never thought of infections, I never got them in my mouth before. But honestly, Just Open up, stick your toungue out, place the clippers, squeeze, relief!

I can't believe I read every post Comments By: Brian

clip it.

W*F??? Comments By: Frankly Terrified

W*F?? Who in the world thought this was a good idea? It's obvious to me that a lot of people are absolutely insane. Seriously, cut a taste bud off? W*F do you do when you get corns? Nip the toe off? How about a headache? Any relief ideas from you sheering-folk?

works, i just did it!! DO IT! Comments By: kathleen

I was contemplating on whether or not to clip it. Clipping it sounded intense (this is coming from someone who has their tongue pierced), so I opted for an alternative. Since I have long nails, I used them like they were tweezers and pulled on the bud until it popped off. The pain was gone immediately. It feels sooo much better than to have that irritating thing hanging off my tongue. :P

USE TWEEZERS! Comments By: Brendan

It's much easier to use tweezers than nail clippers. If you're just removing one bud, better to get a thin pair of tweezers than a nail clipper. I do this regularly, and it works, but I couldn't find my tweezers and had to use a nail clipper this time - I ripped off about 30 more buds than I should've, as the clamp is so long on clippers, and I'm still not even sure if I got the darn things.

This tactic is good yes, saves a lot of pain and annoyance, but if you're going to do it, use tweezers not clippers!

My own opinion from experiance: Comments By: Charlie

In the winter my toung seems to get many swollen tastebuds. They would stay there for weeks on end, and all they did was get in the way. Cutting off my swolen tastebuds solved the prblem in no time. Needless to say, i agree with this poast.

Best Resolution Ever Comments By: Katrina

I've been clipping for three years now. I get about one of these a ear. Sterilize the clipper with either scaldingly hot water or alcohol-- I've been using hand sanitizer-- and get rid of the nasty bugger. I've never had an infection after this homestyle surgery..

A little painful, but it works!! Comments By: Heather

I hate swollen taste buds! They hurt really bad, and I always get them in the same spot, right at the tip of my tongue. It hits my teeth all day, and for a while I couldn't get any relief from them until they went away on their own. I tried this and it hurt because I had two right next to each other, but man did it work. My tongue bled for a few seconds, maybe even a minute, but I willing to taste blood for a minute for the relief from the pain! Works great. However I do suggest that you wait a few days, that way you can give it a chance to go away on your own, before you cut your tongue.

A little painful, but it works!! Comments By: Heather

I'm doing it! Comments By: simplytps

I have this same reoccuring & Irritating problem. Normally the ones on the tip on my tongue are instantly neutralized by using Peroxyl (peroxide mouthwash by Colgate) and they go away but for the month I have had one on the side of my tongue near the back that is larger than normal. It hurts to eat so i'm clipping it tonight! Pray for me....

Thanks! Comments By: Megan

I have a horrible little bugger on the tip of my tongue right now and it is driving me insane....and no matter how much it hurts, you can't stop messing with it. I can't wait to get home from work so I can cut the pesky thing off!

It worked! Comments By: Big Baby

I am the biggest baby and I have had a huge taste bud for the past couple of days... I did a Google search on how to get rid of it and came up with this. I was desperate not to spend the weekend in pain, so I did it.... I have to admit it does still hurt, but not anything like it did before. Thanks!

thought i was the only one Comments By: Anon

though i just bite mine off...
simple really...never had an infection. ever.
and it doesn't hurt at all-trust me i have a very low tolerance for pain...but biting it way better than leaving it...and besides that stupid bump is so freaking annoying...but anyway...
those saying that clipping it off hurts more than leaving it...i feel bad for you...you'll suffer so much longer than those of us who bite/clip/tweeze...=/ poor you.

Morons. Comments By: Anon

I can't believe I read every post.

Definitely works, I had like 10 swollen buds on the side of my tounge and I just kept irritating them more and more. Clipping them definitely solves your problems, having a little bit of pain from clipping them off for like, 5 seconds is alot better than alot of pain for a week because you're too skeptical to not do it. They do the same exact thing at the doctor's office, you're just wasting your time and money and a shitload of pain.

You're losing taste buds either way, deal with it. We lose them when we get older anywho. You're going to end up mixing your foods someday no matter what you do.

Yes, it works! Comments By: Anon

These things are such a pain! I've been getting them for a years now, usually 1 or 2 at a time only. Without doing any research, one day I tried cutting them off with nail clippers. It was such a relief!

Tonight, I got another one and figured I'd actually do some research to see if I was causing any long-term harm. I found this page and read through every comment.

From my own experience, if you let them be, they can last for several days or weeks. Well let me assure you, cutting them off makes them feel so much better! For a few minutes, it will bleed a bit more than a regular cut on your skin would. However, the pain is much more bearable!

Before you cut it off, it's not just a pain, but it's that kind of annoying pain like a really bad papercut. In my opinion, it's even worse than a bad papercut. If you have one of these things on your tongue, you probably know what I mean.

Well, after you cut it off, the pain is much more bearable! About 2 seconds after you cut it off, that "papercut" pain goes away and it feels more like a small cut you got 2-3 days ago that's already mostly healed.

To give you a more specific idea of how much of a difference it makes, before you cut it off the pain is around a 7 or 8 out of 10. After you cut it off, it's like a 2 out of 10; just a minor annoyance that you won't even notice unless you think about it.

If you're worried about infections, I can't give any assurances that it won't happen, but I can tell you I've cut off around 50-100 of these things, mostly without any sterilization of any sort. I just take the nail clippers, cut it off, and I'm done. I haven't been boiling the clippers or even washing the nail clippers and I haven't used any Listerine or any other disinfecting stuff (although I probably will from now on). Never had any infections or even any significant pain after waking up the next day.

I've never tried using tweezers, just nail clippers, so you could pick whichever one you want I guess. Also, like 95% of the time I cut the correct one on the first try. Just make sure you get close to a mirror and take your time (aim before you shoot) and you shouldn't be clipping any non-infected ones.

Overall, from my own experience and after reading all these comments, if you haven't tried cutting/plucking them before, I highly recommend you do it. It doesn't get rid of the pain entirely, but it's so much better after cutting it off!

It's more precise than the "natural cure" Comments By: Andrew

Same with me, been cliping them since I thought of it in childhood.

YOUR NATURAL REACTION IS TO BITE IT OFF or try to rub it against your teeth and pop it/grate it off.

The problem with that is its one of the causes(squishing an adjacent one with your teeth will make it swell too)

Clipping is a much more precise method of the exact same thing.

Bad Idea Comments By: Greg

I did this a week ago. My tounge became infected. The doctors removed 1/4 of my tounge and I have to stay on antibiotics for 2 months. But the pain did go away before it got infected.

It works!!!! Comments By: Ella

Just did it for the first time (cliping it off did not hurt) and the pain is gone!!!! :)

So pleased! Comments By: Emma

I just did it too after reading this article. I couldn't take the pain any longer and now it's completely gone. Thank you so much!

YEAH SO IT SWELLS Comments By: Jeff Riecken

OKAY.. SO I DID IT.. I WONT BE ABLE TO TASTE WHEN IM 70, IF I KEEP THIS UP.... BUT IT WORKS FINE AND DANDY. THE THING THAT HURTS IS THE THING YOU CLIP OFF...PROBLEM SOLVED. FORGET WHAT I SAID EARLIER....

Works Comments By: Eddy

I've been doing this for years. Nice to see that I am not the only one. Usually my sore buds are on the tip of my tongue so I use my front teeth to bite them off. It is rather easy and painless. I think they grow back? Someone might look in to that for confirmation.

The ONLY answer.... DONE IT FOR YEARS!! Comments By: Rachel

Yes, after suffering from these non-stop for years I decided to just pull it off. I first started using tweezers and pulling it off and THIS was better than leaving them on... Then I got nail clippers and it's the FIRST thing i do when i feel one now...
It's WELL worth it!

A FEW TIPS WHEN DOING;
a) dry the spot on your tongue where it is as good as possible (wiping it and air drying it)
b) clean the nail clippers first
c) you can try to gently bite on your tongue and push the part you need out between your teeth to make it poke out more and to isolate it
d) make sure you have JUST the swollen one before pushing down the clippers and do it fast and it's all over!! (you might get a little tiny bit of blood that stops very very quickly.

Definitely recommended if you are suffering from a swollen taste bud! (especially if you have one that's hitting your teeth so it wont go down or youre one of those crazies that feel the need to rub it more because it hurts when it's rubbed!

what we all have in common: the pain Comments By: Anon

Thanks for the tips. I'm a little too nervous to clip them off so im making a Doctors appointment, and my luck my tongue will get an infection if i do. But for the PAIN until then...SUGGESTIONS please. I read in earlier posts that ice and mouthwash can help.

I tried it... Comments By: anon

SO I get these things all the time and I just couldn't take it anymore so I googled it and found this website. I cut it off but I feel it still hurts the same...oh well It was worth shot I guess. I might try it again in the future though cuz at least the stupid bump is gone.

The Truth Comments By: Chad Kuhn

This works. I've done it for more years than I care to remember, and I do it with my finger nails rather than clippers. To all the skeptics, let me clarify a few points.

1. Taste Buds regenerate within a week.
2. The Tongue is one of the fastest healing parts of your body.
3.Your risk of infection is minimal.
4. If you get only the affected taste bud, you'll hardly notice even a drop of blood and relief is immediate.

There. I just want it known, this WORKS, and there is no lasting damage. Please just make sure you get only the affected taste bud and not you tongue, as that's the only was I see someone bleeding at all.

and that IS the truth! Comments By: Puntz

CHAD, the previous poster has it spot on. The covering of the tongue is much like the skin. The layer that has taste buds regenerates quicker than skin. The tongue and mouth are hardy - never made your gums bleed when flossing?

What I want to know is why these little so-and-so's swell up in the first place.

cya!

OMG THIS WORKS SO WELL! Comments By: Lauren

I've had it for a week and after reading these comments I clipped it off. It WORKS. I literally felt pain for two seconds, then it faded away and within five minutes my tongue is back to normal, almost NO bleeding. Just rinse with mouthwash after and make sure to sterilize the clippers :D

I did it! Comments By: Jill

Oh my gosh, I can't believe I just did that. The thing has been bothering me for 2 days so I just went and took the nail clipper and did it real fast. Bleeding a little bit, but so glad to have that over with. Already feels a million times better.

i used my fingers Comments By: michael

all last night i woke up intermittently. i had to move my tongue to various parts of my mouth so that the stupid bud did not hit my teeth. i just (2 min ago) went into the bathroom, held my tongue in my fingers, and "clipped" the bud with my fingernails. it is incredible. i have 0 pain now.

You're crazy! Comments By: Hayley(:

First of all, i didn't know what the heck that stuff we were supposed to clean the nail clippers with was, so i used alchohol instead. When i attempted to clip the swollen taste buds, they began to bleep profusely! It was horrible pain and I ended up getting an infection. People, DO NOT FOLLOW THIS ADVICE.

works like a charm.... Comments By: zd

pain was probably a 8 as far as tongue pain goes, did a search, granted they arent swollen taste buds, but i went ahead and tried cutting them (like 4) off anyways....k, 2 words...miracle cure....works like a f'n charm. Thanks guys...figured out what caused it, those chips named "munchies" with the variety of chips..ate like 2 of the vendor machine bags, had to be the culprit!

I use TWEEZERS, but want to know--is the bud gone forever? Comments By: Barbie

I have had these, and initially it seemed NO one I knew had a clue what I was talking about, then my friend got them and sympathized. I just would use tweezers and pull it off, even though it was so slippery...but I was always worried it wouldn't grow back..I mean you'd think it's no big deal you have thousands of them....but if you get several of these a year, you already lose your sense of smell and taste a bit as you get older, and I LOVE food...I don't know if I want to risk it...I wish I knew if it'd be gone forever...maybe I could try the pin idea and pierce it....because it DOES relieve it! As SOON as I'd pull it off, you'd THINK it'd hurt WORSE, but it was RELIEF! ALSO, to the worried posters, I am a germ conscious person myself, I don't like the word germaphobe, I think the rest of us SHOULD be as aware...anyway the mouth is the fastest healing area of the body.

i HOPE it works... Comments By: EJ Capiendo

omg i just did it. i clipped off 2 and the 1st 1 bled a little... then when i clipped off the other 1, the 1st 1 just stopped bleeding and kinda healed! im still waiting 2 the 2nd 1 to stop bleeding... right now i have a wet tissue over my tongue to help it stop lol... but its kinda working i guess... it was bleeding like CRAZY and it kinda hurt but and tickled a little too! idk y... lol so i think you should try clipping them off since everyone else is saying that it works...

OMG.... Comments By: Simone..

Omg, When i saw this i thought no way thats crazy who would cut there own tounge! but mine was hurting soo so bad and i had had it for days i thought gosg ill maybe give it a go.... n i done it!! :) it hurts a wee bit cutting it n it bleeds for a min but after that no joke it is no longer a problem it feels so good , such relief honestly try it!!! dont b scared :)!

works Comments By: nick

ive been doing this on my own since i was very young, always works! Doesnt take the pain away completely, but makes it muuuuuch more comfortable!!!!!

WORKED! Comments By: Penny

I sat here with so much pain reading these comments and wondering if people were crazy. It finally hurt bad enough I decided to try it and I didn't even feel it! Now I feel SO MUCH BETTER!!

1. Spray end of tongue (or wherever the little offender is) with Chloraseptic to numb.

2. Wipe instrument with alcohol to sterilize (I used cuticle trimmer scissors, worked like a CHARM!).

3. Smile because you now feel GREAT.

I DID IT!!! Comments By: Michele

Unbelievable...it DOES work. I was reading each and every post...while sticking that stupid big a*s bud out of my upper lip. It was so annoying. So I got some rubbing alcohol, put it on nail clippers, dabbed on camphophenique on bud to numb, and CLIP! I took the head off the bud. Probably could have clipped a little more but I was scared. But...my pain level, now about a 2...was like a 15!! Bled about 90 secs. Gargled with mouthwash, and bit on paper towel to stop bleeding...and posted this result. Go try it...it's definitely worth it!!!

I JUST DID IT!!! I'M SQUEMISH TOO!! Comments By: Brenda

Okay I put some OraGel on it. And just sliced it off. The relief. AHHHHHHH....... Feels so much better.

I had a swollen taste bud Comments By: Jennifer

I had a swollen taste bud toward the tip of my tounge for 4 months now. The doctor said he didnt know why it was swollen and he gave me anti swelling cream that never worked! He said he could send me to a tounge specialist to cut it off..but what the hell I dont want to pay out the ass to get it clipped! Sooooo I googled it today and I found all your comments..and I CLIPPED IT MYSELF JUST NOW! IT DOESNT HURT! It bled just a little but now that big bump isent hitting the top of my mouth and being irritated!

Bite Comments By: Kay

I just bite it off with my teeth, hurts for 2 seconds then its like it was never there. The doctor will charge you a bajillion dollars to the the exact same thing (well not bite but "clip")

I USE MY TEETH Comments By: Janel

i don't use a clipper, i just put the one taste bud between two teeth and bit down popping it off kinda, it feels like a lot of pressure but it feels good when you do it, and better afterward :) forget the clippers

It sounds crazy but it works... open sores heal quickly on tongue Comments By: Mel

This really worked for me. I have tried it twice now. I clipped a swollen taste bud before I went to bed. It bled for just a minute and when I woke up... the pain and open sore were gone. Completely healed.

i just... Comments By: heather

pull them out every time i get one like right now i have one Ive been doing this since i was 11 an im 24 now so ya it always works for me !!!

Had tastebud lasered Comments By: anon

I went to the dentist yesterday and had my tastebud lasered off. I couldn't snip it off myself. I'm glad the dentist took care of it properly but it cost me $239!!!! That hurt alot! Next time I'll try doing it myself!

it always works.. ive been doing it for about 5 years now! Comments By: Steve

i bite mine off.. ice helps the pain for a little and mouthwash does the same. but if you bite them off it is immediate relief.. i thought i was the only one. apparently not even close lol

It works Comments By: Keri

I clip my off too. And it does hurt for 1 second and then its gone. I dip the clippers in alcohol and I have never had a problem.

i'm DYIN' of laughter!! Comments By: jada

I can't help but laugh as I read this thread!! It's HILARIOUS to know I'm not the only idiot removing swollen taste buds. I just bite mine off tho! hahahah.. if u have one just do it, remove that lil sucker.. u WON'T get an infection. Trust. ;)

It feels so much better Comments By: Val

OMG Thank you very much. I just did it, it feels so much better.

I'm a PUSS! Comments By: Minnie

I can't do it!!!! I keep trying and trying to bite it but i freak out. I'm just standing in front of my mirror, drooling into the sink, trying to clip it off, but the taste of the metal is sicking me out. I even used to have my tongue pierced, never bothered me...but this little bugger. YUCK! what if it REALLY hurts? I'M such a PUSS!!!!!!

Relief! Comments By: amy

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this website. I had the same pain on my tongue and the tastebud was a tiny black dot. It was so painful. After I read your posts, I decided that I would clip my tastebud off too. I just held it with my nails and it came off! It hurt a little, just as much as the usual pain except with a tiny drop of blood. I rinsed with Listerine then water and now I am pain free.

Worked for me!! So Far? Comments By: Mike

Thank God this stop that annoying pain! I just hope I don't get an infection.

sounded bonkers Comments By: Sara

But I had towards the center of my tounge. Was driving me effing nuts. I was hesitant at first but about 80 people on this site said it worked awesome so I went for it. I steriized some cuticile siccors and just snipped it off. Garrgled with Listerine. It bleed maybe 2 mins if that and it felt fine afterwords. As someone who's had a couple of piercings I can say that really it is NOT painful and the infection risk is minimal if your not a dummie.

mouth is not a sterile area Comments By: Les

You can clip and clip, make sure that the instrument is clean, it does not need to be a super sterile procedure because the mouth is NOT a sterile cavity such as the bowel or the gallbladder. It is dirty so just clean the clipper or scissors and snip. rinse with antiseptic wash to avoid infection.

CRAZY people... great idea!! Comments By: Lilly

I literally read every single comment before doing it and let me tell you... I didnt feel a thing. Honestly, it bled for like a a second and hardly at all. I would never have thought you could clip it off but you crazy people did it soo I did it and am very thanksful :) NO MORE PAIN :)

What it feels like when you clip it off Comments By: Anonymous

It's a bit painful. But I can say that putting a piece of rock salt on your tongue is more painful than clipping it off. The faster you clip it, the lesser it hurts. just make sure you are clipping the swollen one. Once done, there a bit of bleeding but it will stop in a while. There's a feeling of mild burning like you want to scratch it but just rub it inside and it's gone. Good luck!

Alternative tool Comments By: Anonymous

If you are afraid of using a clipper you may try to use a small and clean scissors. But be careful of what you're hitting. I've used it rather than a clipper because it has a curve. When I'as sure it was my target bud, I did it fast. You could the target swollen bud easily because scissors is open in front unlike the clipper. But of course, it's in your preference.. which you think is best for you to use.

Have done this for years Comments By: Diane

I occasionally get painful white or red enlarged taste buds that affect speech and hurt like crazy when the tongue moves at all against teeth and lips. I also sterilize clippers and remove them, have for years... small sting = no more pain. Then rinsing with warm salted water heals itup nice and quick.

Actually Works Comments By: Miss Wieder

I have had several swollen taste buds over the past two months. The other day I got a really large one that hurt to eat or talk. I googled swollen taste buds and found this sight that said to cut it off with clippers. I had never heard of such craziness. I was very skeptical but it hurt so bad. I got a pair of clippers and sterilized them in alcohol. Then clipped the taste bud off. No pain at all and the relief from having it gone was instant. Never even knew it was there. Definately worth a try.

Works like charm Comments By: M.G.

Works 100%. Just gargle with mouthwash after. Almost immediate relief!

*+*+*+*Use dental floss!!!!!!!!!!*+*+*+*+* Comments By: Anon

I Had a swollen taste bud in the middle of my tongue once..extremely ANNOYING. i waited a week, used Listerine, saltwater..peroxide even. finally I just took dental floss, wrapped it around the taste bud (it was hard to maneuver) and pulled the string so tight, the taste bud came off. It didn't hurt as bad as nail clippers, finger nails, or even teeth. One quick pull, and no more annoying taste bud.