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ORAL PIERCING AFTERCARE GUIDELINES
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.
A new soft bristled toothbrush should be
used, to help minimize the introduction of bacteria into
your mouth.
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.
ORAL PIERCING HINTS AND TIPS
Some piercees will carry a spare ball in
their wallet or purse. This is particularly advisable if
you wear non-metallic balls such as acrylic, which is more
fragile. 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.
TONGUE:
Try to focus on keeping your tongue level
in your mouth to avoid biting on the jewelry as you eat.
Your mouth is likely to feel uncoordinated at first, but
this will pass. Try eating small bites of solid foods by
placing food directly onto the molars with clean fingers
or a fork. Food that is already in the back of the mouth
doesn't have to get moved there by your tongue. Gently brush
your tongue and jewelry when you are healing. Once healed
brush tongue and jewelry thoroughly to keep plaque away.
LIP / CHEEK:
Be cautious about opening your mouth wide
when you eat, as this can result in the backing of the jewelry
catching on your teeth. Take small bites and go slowly at
first. The outside of the piercing may become somewhat red
or pink during healing and this is normal. Refer to the
Aftercare Guidelines for Body and Facial Piercings sheet
for instructions on how to care for the exterior surface
of such a piercing.
DISCLAIMER
These guidelines are based on a combination
of vast professional experience, common sense, research,
and extensive clinical practice. This is not to be considered
a substitute for medical advice from a doctor. Be aware,
however, that many doctors have no specific training or
experience regarding piercing and may not be educated on
how to best assist you.
Copyright © 2000, by the Association
of Professional Piercers, any changes or deletions are strictly
prohibited and must be approved in writing by the APP.
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