Taking Care of your New Piercing
Primary Oral Care Suggestions
Oral Rinse
The optimal way to care for your piercing is to rinse your mouth for 30-60 seconds with either a medical-grade oral rinse (such as Tech 2000 or Biotene) or diluted Listerine after every meal during the initial healing period (2-4 weeks). (Note: Listerine contains alcohol and can be irritating to the new piercing. This is why we recommend it be diluted.) Be careful not to over clean your piercing, as this will prevent proper healing. (Signs of over-cleaning include a very white or yellow looking tongue.)
Salt Rinse
In addition to the oral rinse after every meal, salt rinses will assist in healing your piercing. First, fill a fresh disposable cup with approximately 8 ounces of warm water and add ¼ teaspoon of non- iodized salt, stirring until it is dissolved. Then rinse your mouth for approximately 15 seconds. Salt rinses should be performed after smoking or drinking anything other than bottled water. Certain individuals with blood or heart related conditions should not rinse orally with salt. Please consult your personal physician with any questions. Note: Some piercers/piercees have had much success by substituting salt rinses with sterile saline solutions.
Ice
Ice and other cold liquids can help reduce swelling. Ice pops, ice cream, and frozen yogurt are also good ways to reduce swelling, but be sure to perform either a salt or oral rinse following your snack (this is not necessary if you just use plain ice). Swelling tends to last 3-5 days.
Ibuprofen
For those who are extremely sensitive, an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil, etc.) can help reduce swelling and pain.
Brushing Your Teeth
It is important to brush your teeth three times daily while your piercing is healing. Brushing your teeth will cut down on the amount of bacteria and food particles in your mouth. It is suggested that you purchase a new soft-bristle toothbrush to use during the initial healing period. Also, plaque (a white crusty shell) will begin to build up on your tongue jewelry if you do not gently brush the balls and post. You should brush your jewelry daily if you want to prevent plaque build-up.
Primary Non-Oral Suggestions
Salt Soaks
You can perform your salt soaks either in or out of the shower. First, fill a fresh disposable cup with approximately 8 ounces of warm water and add ¼ teaspoon of salt, stirring until it is dissolved. When ready, either place the cup over the piercing – forming a vacuum type seal – or dip the piercing into the cup. If either of these techniques are not possible, pre-soak a fresh tissue, paper towel, or gauze pad in the salt solution and firmly press it on your piercing. In order to promote effectiveness, the first salt soak should last at least 10 minutes. All additional soaks should last at least 5-10 minutes. Following the salt soak wash the piercing as follows.
Antimicrobial Soap
The optimal way to care for your piercing is to clean it twice daily. If you are physically active, try to schedule your cleanings after you exercise. The easiest and most comfortable way to clean your piercing is either during or immediately following a hot shower. The hot water and steam will help soften your skin and loosen the crust at the base of your jewelry (making it easier to remove). While in the shower, wash your hands thoroughly with antimicrobial soap – preferably medical grade soap such as Provon or Satin. (Beware: antimicrobial soaps containing fragrances can irritate your piercing or cause allergic reactions.)
Next, gently remove the crust from your jewelry with a disposable, one-use product such as a tissue, q-tip or gauze pad. Then place some antimicrobial soap in your hands and rub them together to create a nice lather. Gently wipe the jewelry and your piercing with the tips of your fingers, being careful not to scratch or irritate the area. Once the jewelry and piercing are lathered with soap, spin the jewelry so that the ball on the jewelry rests on one hole of your piercing: then, spin it so that the ball rests on the opposite hole. This process will run some soap into the wound, helping to ward off bacteria. After spinning the jewelry back and forth a few times, rinse the area and jewelry thoroughly while continuing to spin the jewelry back and forth. (Tip: Do not place your piercing directly into the shower’s streaming water. Instead, try to redirect the water with our hands in order to reduce the intensity of rinsing.) If your starter jewelry is not a captive bead ring, try your best to perform the above process with out over working and irritating the area.
Additional Tips
+ Expect tenderness, swelling, discoloration, and possibly bruising and bleeding and itching. Also a natural part of the process for healing any wound includes the secretion of white-yellow fluid. (refer to primary suggestions for proper removal of secretions)
+ If you feel that the normal secretion is turning into a thicker and darker discharge, please do not hesitate to contact your personal physician.
+ NEVER TOUCH YOUR PIERCING WITH UNWASHED HANDS.
+ Do not use petroleum based ointments, peroxide, alcohol, Betadine, iodine or Hibaclense. We do not recommend the use of bactene.
+ CHECK YOUR BALLS at least once a day to make sure they are still on securely.
+ During the initial healing period, the jewelry should not be changed. If a problem develops that calls for the insertion of a different piece of jewelry consult your piercer for help.
+ Do not engage in rough activity that may threaten your piercing. Intense friction and pulling on a fresh piercing is a common way to trigger migration, a process in which the body "pushes" the jewelry out of the body.
+ DO NOT expose your fresh piercing to oral contact or other bodily fluids. Use protective barriers such as condoms, dental dams, and finger cots – even if you are in a monogamous relationship. ORAL: Remember that during the healing process you have an open wound in your mouth – so treat it as such!
+ Eat nutrient –dense meals throughout the day and consider supplementing your diet with Vitamin C and Zinc. These supplements are most effective during the first 2-3 weeks of the healing process.
+ Do not expose your piercing to cosmetics including make-up, hair products, lotions, etc.
+ Drink plenty of fluids. 8-10 glasses of water is a good way to keep your body hydrated.
+ Get enough sleep. At least 8 hours a night. Your body needs this time to heal.
+ Do not sleep on your new piercing. This causes irritation and may prolong the healing process. ORAL: Also, sleep with your head elevated to help relieve swelling.
+ Replace your bedding with clean sets of sheets, blankets, and pillow cases as much as possible during the healing period.
+ Avoid going into a pool, hot tub, lake, etc. These types of water can be unclean and may induce swelling.
+ ORAL: Eat slowly. Only place small portions of food in your mouth at one time.
+ ORAL: Try to refrain from using tobacco products, chewing gum, biting your nails, or giving in to any other oral fixation you may have.
+ ORAL: Do not play with your jewelry during the initial healing period.. Even after healing be careful of excessively causing friction between your jewelry and gums or teeth.
+ ORAL: Following the initial healing period, changing your post to a shorter length will make the jewelry more comfortable in your mouth and will reduce the chances of biting down on the jewelry and of irritating the roof of your mouth. THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE OF CHIPPING TEETH AND WEARING AWAY OF ENAMEL!
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