AFTERCARE FOR ORAL PIERCINGS

Wash your hands thoroughly with anti-bacterial soap before touching your piercing or jewelry. We suggest rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash after eating, drinking anything other than water, and smoking.

Mouthwashes are not intended to be used as often as is typically required for oral piercing aftercare. Mouthwashes with a high alcohol content such as Listerine quickly dry out the tongue’s protective mucous layer. Alcohol-free and reduced alcohol mouthwashes such as TECH 2000™ are suggested. TECH 2000™ has the added benefit of being effective against thrush (Candida albicans). If you use an alcohol-based mouthwash dilute 50% with bottled water, preferably distilled. After using any mouthwash rinse with water to reduce mouthwash residues and dryness.

Oral cleaning antiseptics such as PerOxyl and Gly-Oxide containing peroxide or carbamide peroxide may be detrimental towards healing when used for a prolonged period. Use of these products in addition to an antiseptic mouthwash is probably unnecessary.

During the first 24 to 48 hours the tongue usually swells to almost twice its normal size. Swelling should not impede breathing. Apply ice and drink ice water to minimize swelling and tenderness. Do not take Aspirin because it thins the blood. Swelling and discomfort should steadily recede during the next 3 to 5 days.

After the swelling has receded, warm salt water rinse may be used to remove discharge and lymph secretions. 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or table salt to 8 ounces of distilled water is suggested.

Bleeding usually stops immediately with application of ice. The piercing may bleed very intermittently during the next few hours. If the piercing bleeds while you sleep or upon waking, the piercing may have become dry during the night causing the clot to adhere to the jewelry and reopen the piercing when the barbell is moved.

Tongue piercings produce a discharge just as any other piercing. This discharge is sticky and white to off white. A dark yellow or green discharge indicates an infection.

The inside entrance of lip, labret, cheek piercing should be treated as described for tongue piercing. The outside piercing should be cleaned following the instructions for facial piercings.

Do not allow your piercing to come into contact with another person’s body fluids.

Avoid spicy or hot foods. Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages during the first week; alcohol is a chemical irritant and thins the blood, which can cause excessive bleeding and swelling.

While smoking may be irritating but not necessarily damaging to a new piercing, the use of chewed tobacco products is highly discouraged in the case of any oral piercing.

Get a new toothbrush. Do not chew on pens or other items or share eating utensils or glasses.

Oral jewelry will collect plaque, especially in the crevice between the ball or disc and the bar. Plaque traps bacteria and can cause the jewelry to have a bad color. Daily use of an anti-plaque rinse will prevent plaque build-up. To remove a build-up of plaque, remove and soak jewelry in an antibacterial denture cleaner following the package directions.

And finally, should you have any questions throughout the life of your piercing, please call us. No question is a "dumb" one if you don't know the answer.