Lip Piercing - Advice
Piercings are becoming popular, especially lip
piercings. When you have your lip pierced, it is important to keep
your lip as clean as possible to help prevent infection.
Oral Piercing Aftercare
Cleaning Solutions
An alcohol-free antimicrobial or antibacterial mouth rinse should be
used according to package instructions. Two examples are Tech 2000
and Biotene. These may be available in the oral medications section
of your local drugstores. Check with your piercing studio; many
studios sell these products for your convenience.
Also: Mild sea salt water rinses. Dissolve a pinch (1/4 teaspoon)
non-iodized (iodine-free) sea salt to one cup (8 oz.) warm to hot
distilled or bottled water. (Avoid hot water for the first few
days.) If you have high blood pressure or heart problems, you will
need to eliminate the sea salt, and use only plain warm water
rinses.
Rinse mouth for 30-60 seconds with solution (see Cleaning Solutions
above) after meals during the entire minimum initial healing time.
Do not use more than 4-5 times daily and use it over intervals
spaced throughout the entire day.
Rinse mouth briefly (10-15 seconds) with the mild sea salt mixture
(see recipe above) no more than twice a day. If you are cleaning too
often, the top of your tongue will start to turn a white to
yellowish color. Continue to clean your piercing, but reduce the
number of times you are cleaning it per day.
Cleaning Instructions
Rinse mouth for 30-60 seconds with solution (see Cleaning Solutions
above) after meals during the entire minimum initial healing time.
Do not use more than 4-5 times daily and use it over intervals
spaced throughout the entire day. Rinse mouth briefly (10-15
seconds) with the mild sea salt mixture (see recipe above) no more
than twice a day. If you are cleaning too often, the top of your
tongue will start to turn a white to yellowish color. Continue to
clean your piercing, but reduce the number of times you are cleaning
it per day.
A new soft bristled toothbrush should be purchased, to help reduce
the bacteria that is introduced into your mouth.
What Is Normal?
Swelling of the area is perfectly normal during the first part of
healing an oral piercing. It can be greatly reduced by gently
sucking (rather than chewing) on clean ice. Chipped or shaved ice,
or small cubes are best. The majority of the swelling usually lasts
for only 3-5 days.
Any new piercing can bleed off and on for a few days. There can also
be some bleeding under the surface resulting in temporary bruising
or discoloration. This is perfectly normal and not indicative of any
complication.
Some tenderness or discomfort in the area of a new piercing is not
unusual. You may feel aching, pinching, tightness or other
unpleasant sensations off and on for several days or longer.
Don’t be alarmed if you see a fairly liquid, yellowish secretion
coming from the piercing. This is blood plasma, lymph and dead cells
which is perfectly normal. All healing piercings secrete, it just
looks different inside the mouth as it doesn’t have a chance to dry
and form a crust as it does on ear or body piercings. This is not
pus, but indicates a healing piercing.
Plaque may form on tongue jewelry, commonly on the bottom ball
and/or post. Scrub your barbell with a soft bristled toothbrush
(gently during healing). If you are diligent with oral hygiene the
jewelry will not need to be removed for cleaning, and it can usually
be left in even for routine visits to the dentist.
Piercings may have a tendency to have a series of ups and downs
during healing by seeming healed and then regressing. Try to be
patient, and do keep cleaning during the entire initial healing
time, even if the piercing seems healed sooner.
Each body is unique, and healing times can vary considerably. If you
have any questions, please contact your piercer.
Once initial swelling is down, having your piercer replace the post
portion of bar style jewelry with a shorter post may be wise.
Jewelry which fits more closely is less likely to irritate your
mouth or get between your teeth and be bitten.
If you like your piercing, leave jewelry in at all times. Even
healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes after having been
there for years! This varies from person to person, and even if your
ear lobe piercings stay open without jewelry your oral piercing may
not!
Keep following the care procedures during the entire minimum initial
healing time, even if the piercing seems healed sooner.
What To Do
Try to sleep with your head propped up on pillows during the first
few nights of healing; keeping your head above your heart will help
to avoid much initial overnight swelling.
An over-the-counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.) taken according to package
instructions can reduce discomfort, and it can also help to diminish
swelling the first few days.
Check twice daily with clean hands to be sure the threaded ends on
your jewelry are on tight. To clean hands, wash them carefully with
liquid antibacterial soap. If your hands aren’t freshly washed,
don’t touch yourself above the neck during the initial healing time.
Replace your toothbrush and make sure to keep it clean so that
everything that goes into your mouth is hygienic while you are
healing. A sensitive type of toothpaste may be less irritating to
your mouth during healing than a usual, stronger variety.
Try to go slowly when you eat and to take small bites when you are
getting used to your new jewelry. Cold foods and beverages feel
great and can help diminish swelling. Drink plenty of liquids,
especially bottled water.
Get enough sleep and eat a nutritious diet. The healthier your
lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.
What To Avoid
No oral sexual contact including French (wet) kissing or oral sex
during the entire initial healing period, even if you are in a
monogamous relationship. (If you had a large cut you would not allow
anyone to spit into it! This is essentially the same thing.)
Avoid chewing on gum, tobacco, fingernails, pencils, sunglasses,
etc., during healing. Don’t share plates, cups or eating utensils.
Reducing smoking or quitting is highly advisable when healing an
oral piercing. Smoking increases risks and can lengthen the healing
time. Avoid undue stress and recreational drug usage.
Stay away from aspirin, large amounts of caffeine, and alcoholic
beverages for the first several days. Alcoholic beverages include
all beer, wine and hard liquor. These can cause additional swelling,
bleeding and discomfort. Refrain from eating spicy, salty, acidic,
or hot temperature foods and beverages for a few days.
Do not play with the piercing for the initial healing time beyond
the necessary movement for speaking and eating. The mouth withstands
a lot of trauma from normal speaking and eating. Try to avoid other
disturbances such as excessive talking, actively playing with the
jewelry, or clicking the jewelry against your teeth. Undue stress on
the piercing can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable
scar tissue, migration and other complications.
Even after healing, excessive play with oral jewelry can result in
permanent damage to teeth, gums, and oral structures. Metal is
harder than the human body; be gentle.
Do not use Lysterine or other mouthwash which contains alcohol. It
can irritate the area and delay healing.
Don’t use too many different products; select and use only one
cleaning solution (such as Tech 2000 or Biotene) plus sea salt.
Tips For Oral Piercings
If you break or lose a ball, a small piece of clean pencil eraser
can be press-fit onto the post as an emergency measure to keep the
jewelry from coming out until a replacement can be obtained.
On barbells/labret studs you may change the ball portion of the
jewelry at any time, but the original post should remain until
initial swelling is down.
CHECK OUT:
Piercing Risks
Piercing Pain
Piercing Mistakes
Piercing Effects
Body Modification