Cheek, Labret & Lip Piercings

Summary

• Healing Time: Typical 2 months, Maximum 6 months
   
• Avoid putting anything dirty in your mouth and refrain from kissing and oral sex till the piercing is healed
• Cold foods are best at first (e.g. ice-cream)
• Don’t play with the piercing excessively, let it heal
• Never leave your jewelry out for more than a few hours - the inside of the piercing may close
• Take vitamin C and zinc to maximise your healing
• To minimise swelling in the first few days, suck on ice-cubes and antibacterial/anti-inflammatory throat lozenges, and try not to talk too much
• Wait 2 months before changing jewelry yourself

Care Routine

• Day 1
  1. Bleeding
     The inside of the mouth has an excellent blood supply so expect some blood in your mouth during and just after the procedure.
  2. Pain
     You will experience some soreness for the first day or so. Paracetamol (e.g.Panadol, Tylenol) is an appropriate pain-reliever. Do not use aspirin as it promotes bleeding.
  3. Swelling
     Suck on ice or popsicles to help reduce the swelling which will inevitably occur over the next few days.
• Days 2 - 7
  1. Food
     At this stage it will be difficult to talk and eat. It is important to maintain your food intake during the healing period. Cold foods are better tolerated than hot foods. High-calorie foods (e.g. milkshakes, ice-cream) will keep up your energy levels – if you do not eat enough, the healing process may be delayed. You should avoid anything spicy or hot.
  2. Mouthwashing
     • Rinse your mouth with salty water as often as you like. The correct proportion is 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt to 8 ounces (250mls) of bottled water.
     • Try sucking antibacterial/anti-inflammatory throat lozenges such as Difflam ® to reduce the swelling.
     • Use a disinfectant mouthwash after eating:
       • Biotene ®
       • Listerine ®:It should be diluted to a quarter of the usual strength – otherwise the mouthwash will destroy your naturally occurring enzymes and kill the exposed healing tissues.
       • Oral_B ®
       • Rembrandt ®
       • Tech 2000
     • If your tongue or your inside piercing hole turn brown or green this is a sign that you should reduce the amount of mouthwash that you are using.
     • Do not use mouthwashes or toothpastes containing peroxide.
  3. Pain
     After the first day you should not need any more pain relief.
  4. Swelling
     You may experience some swelling on Day 1, but the worst swelling occurs after 2-5 days. Try sucking on ice or a popsicle, and eating cold foods. Keep cold drinks in the fridge and use them frequently.
• Weeks 2 - 8
  1. Changing Jewelry
     Your initial labret has a longer pole to cope with the initial swelling. After 2 weeks most people will see their piercer to fit a shorter pole. Do not try to do this yourself.
  2. Healing
     Your piercing will usually take 2 months to heal fully and become "permanent". Don’t play with or chew on your piercing as this can lead to the formation of scar tissue.
  3. Hygiene
     Both bacterial and viral infections can penetrate a healing piercing. While healing avoid putting anything dirty in your mouth, e.g. coins, pens, other people's tongues, and refrain from kissing and oral sex.
  4. Safety Check
     You should check that the ball is firmly screwed on to the barbell about once a week. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching the piercing.
  5. Warning
     Even a healed piercing can close overnight. Never leave your piercing without jewelry for more than a few hours!

   

Piercing Options and Jewelry Choices

• Suitable Positions
  1. The position of the jewelry on the face is a matter of taste.
  2. The internal position is important: The stud should not touch the teeth or the gums near where the teeth erupt and it should not be possible to bite on the jewelry in normal use.
• Suitable Types
  1. Labret Studs
     Studs are easier to manage than rings since no special equipment is required to change studs. Either choose internally threaded studs or, if the bar is externally threaded, be very sure that no threads are exposed. Ask whether a range of balls, spikes, jewels is available. Make sure different lengths of stud are available.
  2. Captured bead rings
     Rings are inserted at a different angle from studs so that a stud will sit in a ring piercing at a funny angle. You should decide on one or the other. Rings require special pliers to open them.
• Suitable Sizes
  1. Gauge
     
     • Studs should be 14 gauge.
     • Smaller gauges will migrate and may become uncomfortable to wear.
     • Rings may be 14 or 16 gauge initially.
  2. Initial Stud length
     • 7/16"- 5/8"
     • 11 - 16mm
  3. Eventual Stud Length
     • 3/8" - 1/2"
     • 10 - 14mm
  4. Ring Diameter
     Typically 1/8" or 3mm or greater than the thickness of the lip.
• Suitable Materials
  • Surgical Stainless Steel
  • 18 carat gold
  • Titanium
  • Niobium
• Changing Jewelry:
  It is possible to change jewelry during the first 8 weeks, but this is best done by a professional piercer. After that time it should be easy to change jewelry yourself.

Other Issues

• Alcohol
  If you do drink, choose low alcohol beverages such as beer or cider. Any drink with more than 10% alcohol is likely to hurt and will damage the healing tissues.
• Bacterial Infections
  
  1. Infections are uncommon. Even though your mouth harbours more bacteria than any other part of your body, the washing action of your saliva and the enzymes it contains improves healing.
  2. Avoid putting anything dirty into your mouth (e.g. chewing pens and fingernails).
  3. Symptoms of bacterial infection include increased pain, increased redness and an increase in the amount and thickness of the discharge. The infected discharge is usually thick and yellow, green or grey and may have an unusual odour. Consult with your physician or piercer and do not remove the jewelry until you seek advice.
• Lavender Oil
  This essential oil lubricates the piercing and is reputed to reduce scar tissue and prevent tightening. It must be used in its dilute form, a drop applied to the outside of the piercing with a cotton bud, the excess removed, and then the jewelry moved back and forth through the piercing. The correct dilution is 10 drops lavender oil in 15mls grapeseed or sweet almond oil.
• Smoking
  
  1. Smoking is the most frequent cause of cancer of the lip.
  2. Smoking slows healing by suppressing your immune system and blood circulation to the skin.
  3. Smoking promotes infection by killing the tissue that it contacts.
  4. If you cannot stop smoking then you should reconsider having a lip piercing.
• Viral Infections
  
  1. Viruses such as Hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV can penetrate any piercing that has not healed.
  2. These viruses may be present in the blood, saliva, semen, sweat and vaginal secretions of infected persons.
  3. Risky activities include:
     • Kissing
     • Oral Sex
     • Sharing cigarettes, joints, bongs, drug-taking paraphenalia, drink bottles, wind instruments, whistles.
  4. No data is available on the risk of viral transmission where oral piercings, healed or unhealed, are present.
  5. Practice safe sex at all times.
• Vitamins
  Studies have shown that vitamin C and zinc promote wound healing. Aim for about 2000-3000 mg vitamin C and 100 mg zinc daily. Note that these amounts are not available in multivitamin tablets. Ask at your pharmacist or health-food store for advice on suitable products. If you are taking any medications, ask your pharmacist to make sure there are no interactions between them and the vitamin C and zinc you intend to take. For example, vitamin C can delay the absorption of the contraceptive pill - they should be taken at different times.