This article was co-authored by Karissa Sanford. Karissa Sanford is the Co-owner of Make Me Holey Body Piercing, a piercing studio based in the San Francisco Bay Area that specializes in safe and friendly body piercing. Karissa has over 10 years of piercing experience and is a member of the Association of Professional Piercers (APP).
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Taking proper care of any new piercing is important to avoid infections and ensure proper healing. Lip and other oral piercings need special attention, because bacteria in and around the mouth can increase the infection risk. To allow a lip piercing to heal properly, you will need to take care of it, keep it clean and dry, leave it alone, and avoid certain foods and activities.[1]
Steps
Cleaning and Caring for Your Lip Piercing
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1Clean the inside of your mouth. Rinse your mouth for 30 seconds using an alcohol-free mouthwash or salt solution after every time you eat, drink, or smoke. Rinse before bedtime as well.
- To make a salt solution, combine 1/4 teaspoon (1.2 ml) of non-iodized salt with 8 ounces (237 ml) of boiling water. Stir to dissolve the salt, and let it cool.
- Don’t increase the salt content, as this could irritate your mouth.
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2Clean the outside of the piercing and jewelry. Once a day, preferably in the shower when any crusted matter and debris around the piercing has softened, lather a mild soap with your fingers and gently wash the piercing site and jewelry. Gently rotate the jewelry for a thorough cleaning and to remove debris. Rinse thoroughly, gently rotating the jewelry again.
- Always wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning or touching your piercing.
- Don’t clean the piercing with soap more than once a day.
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3Soak the piercing. Once or twice a day, fill a small cup with the salt solution and soak the piercing for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse the area with warm water after.
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4Brush and floss at least twice a day. Brush and floss after every meal if possible. Rinse your mouth with alcohol-free mouthwash after brushing to remove any leftover food particles from your mouth.
- Be gentle while brushing, so that you do not irritate the piercing.[2]
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5Eat slowly and carefully. Soft foods are recommended for the first few days. Once you return to solid food, cut it into small pieces. Place bite-sized pieces of food directly onto your molars. Be careful not to bite your lip, and avoid contact with the piercing as much as possible. Chew as far away from the piercing as you can. In the first couple days especially, try foods like:[3]
- Ice cream
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Cold foods and drinks that soothe and help keep swelling.
- Don’t use chewing gum until your piercing heals.
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6Reduce swelling. Suck on small pieces of ice to alleviate pain and swelling. Pain relieving anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen can also be used.
Knowing What to Avoid
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1Avoid eating, drinking, and smoking for the first 3 hours. For as long as possible, and certainly for the first 3 hours after receiving your piercing, leave your lip piercing alone.[4] Avoid talking as much as possible. Until your piercing is completely healed, you should also avoid:
- Alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and drugs
- Sticky foods, including oatmeal
- Hard food, candy, and gum
- Spicy food
- Salty foods
- Chewing on non-edible items, such as your fingers, pencils, and pens.
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2Leave the piercing alone. Cleaning time is the only time you should touch your piercing. Touching it too much can lead to infections, swelling, pain, and increased healing time. Don’t play with it, don’t let others play with it, and avoid contact and motion as much as possible.[5] During the healing process, you should also avoid:
- Oral sex and kissing
- Sharing food, drinks, and utensils
- Licking your piercing or playing with it with your tongue or fingers
- Rigorous activity and physical contact involving the face
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3Stay away from water. This includes chlorinated water like pools and hot tubs, but it also means fresh water, lengthy showers and baths, and steam rooms and saunas. Keep your piercing dry, otherwise it will take longer to heal and may not heal properly.
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4Avoid substances that could aggravate the piercing. Don’t clean your piercing with rubbing alcohol, scented soaps, hydrogen peroxide, antibacterial ointments, or petroleum-based creams or gels.[6] These products can cause irritation, dryness, cell damage, or clogged pores.
- Keep the area around the piercing free of makeup, cosmetics, and facial creams or lotions.
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5Don’t change the jewelry until your lip piercing has healed. Not only can this aggravate newly healed skin, but the piercing can start to close immediately.[7]
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6Maintain good oral hygiene. After your piercing has healed, you don’t have to keep up with the multiple daily mouthwash rinses and soaks, but clean the piercing and jewelry in the shower with mild soap every few days. Brush and floss regularly.
Preparing for Your Lip Piercing
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1Recognize the signs of infection. Before getting your lip pierced, know what to look for regarding infections. Symptoms include pus, green or yellow discharge, tingling or loss of feeling around the piercing site, fever, and excessive bleeding, pain, redness, and swelling.[8]
- Leave the jewelry in if you suspect an infection, but seek medical attention immediately.[9]
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2Know what an allergic reaction will look like. Body jewelry often contains nickel, which is a common allergen for many people. Symptoms will likely appear within 12 to 48 hours, and can include itching and swelling, crusty or scaly blisters, and redness, rash, or dry skin.[10]
- Your lip piercing won’t heal properly if you are allergic to the jewelry, so go to the doctor immediately if you suspect an allergy.
- If you can’t wear necklaces, earrings, rings or bracelets containing nickel, you won’t be able to wear it in your lip, either. Look for jewelry labeled “surgical steel” or “nickel free.”
- In addition to nickel, some people may be allergic to copper or brass. These 3 base metals cause the majority of allergic reactions to jewelry.
Expert Q&A
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QuestionI got my lip pierced this past Saturday. It's a little swollen, but it doesn't hurt. I do notice a little bit of pus coming out, but not a lot. I clean it every time and make sure it's always clean. Is that normal, even if it's just a little?
Marsha Durkin, RNMarsha Durkin is a Registered Nurse and Laboratory Information Specialist for Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Illinois. She received her Associates Degree in Nursing from Olney Central College in 1987.
Registered NurseNo, pus is not normal. Please see your doctor to get checked for an infection.
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QuestionI just pierced my lip at home the other night and now its really swollen. I might be allergic to the jewelry. Would I be able to change the jewelry and keep my piercings, or will I lose them?Marsha Durkin, RNMarsha Durkin is a Registered Nurse and Laboratory Information Specialist for Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Illinois. She received her Associates Degree in Nursing from Olney Central College in 1987.
Registered NurseIf your piercing is really swollen, you need to see a doctor to check for infection and get medication if needed. An infection is very serious.Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.
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QuestionCan you use salt that you have in the kitchen or does it have to be a certain type of salt?
Community AnswerIt needs to be salt without iodine and other preservatives. Sea salt works best.
Warnings
- Consult your dentist if you suspect that your piercing is causing any issues with your teeth, gums, or tongue.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Only ever use the services of a trained and professional piercer. Attempting to pierce yourself is dangerous, and can lead to nerve damage, excessive bleeding, infections, and other complications.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ Karissa Sanford. Body Piercing Specialist. Expert Interview. 29 October 2019.
- ↑ Karissa Sanford. Body Piercing Specialist. Expert Interview. 29 October 2019.
- ↑ http://www.skin-artists.com/lip-ring-cleaning.htm
- ↑ Karissa Sanford. Body Piercing Specialist. Expert Interview. 29 October 2019.
- ↑ Karissa Sanford. Body Piercing Specialist. Expert Interview. 29 October 2019.
- ↑ http://www.skin-artists.com/piercing-disinfection.htm
- ↑ http://www.skin-artists.com/industrial-piercing-healing.htm
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/body-piercing-problems-check-your-symptoms
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Body-piercing/Pages/Self-help.aspx
About This Article
To care for a new lip piercing, rinse your mouth for 30 seconds with an alcohol-free mouthwash or salt solution before bed and every time you eat, drink, or smoke. Clean the outside of the piercing with mild soap and water once a day. Once or twice daily, soak your piercing in saline solution. Fill a cup with a solution of ¼ teaspoon (1.4 g) of non-iodized salt and 8 ounces (237 mL) of boiled water. Once the water is cool enough to touch comfortably, soak your piercing in it for 5-10 minutes. Rinse the area with plain, warm water when you’re done. Gently brush your teeth at least twice a day to keep your mouth clean. When your piercing is brand new, stick to soft, mild foods and eat slowly and carefully. Sucking on ice can also soothe the piercing and minimize swelling. For more help from our Medical co-author, like how to recognize the signs of infection, scroll down.
