Aftercare - Oral Piercings

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 you local drug store. If using any other mouth rinse, dilute with 50-75% (depending how strong) distilled or bottled water. 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) on non-iodized salt, Epson Salt, or sea salt into 1 cup (8 oz.) warm 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 salt, and use only plain warm water rinses. These salts may be found at your local grocery store of health food store.

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 a day and use it overr intervals throughout the day.
Rinse mouth briefly (10-15 seconds) with 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 turn a white to yellowish color. Continue to clean your piercing, but reduce number of times you are cleaning per day.
A new soft bristled tooth brush should be used, to help minimize the introduction of bacteria 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, shaved, or small cubes of ice are best. The majority of the swelling usually lasts for 3-5 days.
Any new piercing can bleed on and off 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 piercingis not unusual. You may feel aching, pinching, tightness or other unpleasent sensations on and off for several days or longer.
Do not 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 in the mouth because it doesn't have a chance to dry and form a crust as it does on ear or body piercings. This is not puss, it indicates a healing piercing.
Plaque may form on tongue jewellery, commonly on the bottom ball and/or post. Scrub your barbell with a soft bristled brush gently while healing. If you are diligent with oral hygiene the jewellery will not need to be removed for cleaning, and it can usually be left in for routine visits to the dentist.
Piercings may have a tendancy to have a series of ups and downs during healing by seeming healed and then regressing. Try to be patient, and keep cleaning during the initial healing time even if a piercing seems healed sooner.
Each body is unique, and healing times can vary considerably. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Once initial swelling is down, having your piercer replace the post portion of bar style jewellery with a shorter post may be wise..jewellery which fits more closely is less likely to irritate your mouth or get between you teeth and bitten.
If you like your piercing, leave the jewellery in at all times. Even healed piercings can shrink or close in minutes, even after having it for years. This varies from person to person, and even if you ear lobe piercings stay open without jewellery your oral piercings may not.
Keep following care procedures during the intire minimul intial healing time, even if the piercing seems healed sooner.

What to Do
Try to sleep with your head propped on a few pillows for the first few nights of healing; keeping you 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 the jewellery are on tight. To clean hands, wash them carefully with liquid antbacterial soap. If your hands are not freshly washed, do not 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 hygenic while you are healing. A sensitive type of toothpast may be less irritating to your mouth during healing than usual, stronger variety.
Try to go slowly when you eat and to take small bites when you are getting used to your new jewellery. 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 lifestyl, 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 monogomous relationship. (If you had a large cut you wouldn't allow somebody to spit on it! This is essentially the same thing.)
Avoid hewing gum, tabacco, fingernail, pencils, sunglasses, etc. during healing. Do not share plates, cups, or eating utensils. Reducing smoking or quitting is highly advisable when healing an oral piercing. Smoking increases risks and can lengthen healing time as well as cause additional swelling. Avoid undue stress and recreational drug use.
Stay away from aspirin, large amounts of caffiene, and alcoholic beverages for the first several days. Alcoholic beverages include beer, wine, and liquor. These can cause additional swelling, bleeding, and discomfort. Refrain from eating spicy, salty, acidic, or hot temperature foods and beverages for the first few days.
Do not play with the piercing for the initial healing time (2-3 weeks) beyond neccesary movement for eating and speaking. 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 jewellery, or clicking the jewellery 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 jewellery can result in permanent damage to the teeth, gums and oral structures. Metal is harder than the human body; be gentle. Do not use Original Scope or any other mouthwash that contains a high alcohol concentration.
Don't use too many different products; select and use only one cleaing solution (Such as Tech 2000 or Biotene) plus sea salt.

Hints & Tips
Some piercees 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 eraser can be press fit onto the post as an emergence measure to keep the jewelery from coming out until a replacement can be obtained. You can also use one of those small grey liners from underneath a pop bottle cap. (Can be cut smaller and a pinhole put in it.)
On barbells/labret studs you may change the ball portion of the jewellery 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 jewellery as you eat. Your mouth is likely to feel uncoordinated at first.