3 year old tongue piercing pain (Not infected)

Red • FTM (28 • 06 • 19) 💙

I caught a cold 3 days ago and I woke up with a sore throat and a painful tongue piercing hole. I took the bar out and looked at the hole and it was a bit swollen. Today it's not as painful as the first day but I've been struggling to eat without pain but without the ring there is no pain at all. I was wondering if I take the piercing out to eat, will the hole close up?? I'm so hungry, I just want to finally eat a meal comfortably.