Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Prepare for a lip piercing
• Part 2 of 3: Clean and Maintain Your Lip Piercings
• Part 3 of 3: Avoid irritants
• Warnings

Proper care of your new piercing is critical so that the piercing does not get infected and heals well. Lip piercings and other oral piercings need special care as bacteria in and around the mouth increase the risk of infection. This also increases the risk of transmission of certain diseases, and jewelry can cause problems for teeth and gums. For a lip puncture to heal properly, it needs to be monitored, kept clean and dry, without the need to touch it, and certain foods and activities should be avoided.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Prepare for a lip piercing

1. 1 Know what to expect. Lip piercing is painful and can bleed. Within a few days after the piercing, the lip is likely to swell, hurt, and bruise. It can take 6 to 10 weeks for a lip piercing to heal completely, so in addition to your routine oral care, be prepared for repeated daily cleansing of the piercing.
2. 2 Buy in advance what you need to clean your puncture. Cleaning your lip piercing is pretty straightforward, but you will need regular salt (non-iodized), an alcohol-free mouthwash, and a mild, unscented soap. Be sure to also buy a new toothbrush (with soft bristles) and start using it instead of your old one.
3. 3 Recognize the symptoms of infection. Before piercing your lip, find out what symptoms to look out for. Symptoms of an infection include pus, green or yellow discharge from the puncture, tingling or numbness around the puncture, fever, heavy bleeding, pain, redness, and swelling.
   • Do not remove jewelry if you suspect an infection, but be sure to seek medical attention.
4. 4 Find out what an allergic reaction looks like. Body piercing jewelry usually contains nickel, which some people are allergic to. Allergy symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after piercing and include itching, swelling, scabbing blisters, redness, rashes, and dry skin.
   • If you are allergic to jewelry, your lip piercing will not heal properly. If you suspect you have an allergy, make an appointment with your doctor immediately.
   • If you cannot wear necklaces, earrings, rings or bracelets made of nickel, then even more so in the lip. Look for jewelry that says “Surgical Steel” or “Nickel Free” on the label.
   • Some people may also be allergic to copper or brass.It is these three non-ferrous metals that usually cause an allergic reaction to jewelry.

Part 2 of 3: Clean and Maintain Your Lip Piercings

1. 1 Rinse your mouth. After each meal, drink, or smoke break, rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash or saline solution for 30 seconds. Remember to also rinse your mouth before bed.
   • To prepare saline solution, stir ¼ teaspoon (1.25 g) non-iodized salt in a glass (240 ml) boiling water. Stir to dissolve the salt and wait for the water to cool.
   • Do not add more salt, or the solution may irritate the mouth.
2. 2 Clean the outside of the puncture and jewelry. Once a day (preferably in the shower, where scabs and other debris around the piercing will soften a little), use your fingers to lather the soap and gently rinse the piercing and piercing jewelry. Rotate the piercing gently to remove debris and rinse thoroughly. Rinse everything thoroughly with water and then gently rotate the piercing again.
   • Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or touching the piercing.
   • Do not wash your piercing with soap more than once a day.
3. 3 Soak your piercing. Fill a small glass with saline once or twice a day and soak the piercing in it for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse the piercing with warm water.
4. 4 Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. Brush and floss your teeth after every meal. Rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash after each brushing to remove any food particles.
   • Be careful when brushing your teeth to avoid irritating the puncture site.
5. 5 Eat slowly and gently. For the first few days, we recommend switching to soft foods. When you start eating solid food again, cut it into small pieces. Place small pieces of food directly on the molars. Be careful not to bite your lip and try not to touch the piercing. Chew as far away from it as possible. In the first few days, we advise you to eat the following:
   • ice cream;
   • yogurt;
   • pudding;
   • cold food and drinks to relieve pain and swelling.
   • Do not chew gum while the piercing is healing.
6. 6 Relieve swelling. Suck up small ice cubes to relieve pain and swelling. You can also take pain relievers and anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen to relieve pain.

Part 3 of 3: Avoid irritants

1. 1 Do not eat, drink, or smoke for the first three hours. After your piercing, leave your lip alone for as long as possible, or at least three hours. Try not to speak very much. Until the puncture heals completely, you should also give up the following:
   • alcohol, tobacco, coffee and drugs;
   • sticky food, including oatmeal;
   • rough food, candy and gum;
   • spicy food;
   • salty food;
   • chewing on inedible items such as fingers, pencils, and pens.
2. 2 Leave the piercing alone. Brushing is the only time you can touch your piercing. Frequent touching can lead to infection, swelling, pain, and longer healing time. Do not play with the piercing, do not let others do it, and try not to move it very much. While the puncture is healing, you should not do the following:
   • do not have oral sex or kiss;
   • do not share food, drinks and cutlery;
   • do not lick or play with the piercing with your tongue or fingers;
   • do not engage in anything intense and avoid physical contact that involves the face.
3. 3 Stay away from water. This applies to both chlorinated water (pool or jacuzzi water) and fresh water (long showers and baths, as well as steam rooms and saunas). Keep the piercing dry or it will take longer to heal and may not heal properly.
4. 4 Avoid substances that can harm the puncture. Do not clean your piercing with rubbing alcohol, scented soaps, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial ointments, or naphthalan-based creams or gels.These foods can cause irritation, dryness, cell damage, and clogged pores.
   • Do not apply cosmetics, creams or lotions to the area around the piercing.
5. 5 Do not change your piercing jewelry until the lip piercing has healed. Not only will this irritate the healed skin, but it can cause the puncture to heal.
6. 6 Practice good oral hygiene. When the piercing has healed, stop soaking the piercing and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash every day. Remember to wash your piercing and piercing jewelry with gentle soap every few days while you shower. Remember to brush and floss regularly as well.

Warnings

• Only use the services of a professional piercer. Do not try to get the piercing yourself, as it is dangerous and can lead to nerve damage, severe bleeding, infections, and other complications.
• Check with your dentist if you think the piercing is in any way harmful to your teeth, gums, or tongue.