Oral Piercing After Care
Oral Piercing After Care: Safe Healing for Lip, Tongue & Mouth Piercings
APP-Certified Guidelines to Reduce Swelling, Prevent Infection & Ensure Smooth Recovery
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
Step-by-Step Aftercare Guide for Lip piercings, Tongue piercings and all Oral Piercings
Internal Care:
DO NOT TOUCH. Period.
Rinse/Drink cold bottled water after anything you consume or put in and around your mouth. (Sandwiches, cigarettes, other peoples lips, etc)
Brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush (replace monthly) to avoid plaque buildup.
Use alcohol-free and peroxide-free mouthwash 1–2x daily as per normal dental cleaning habits
External Care:
DO NOT TOUCH. Period.
Rinse piercing with lukewarm water for 60+ seconds toward the end of your shower routine.
Clean jewelry and surrounding area with sterile saline spray (e.g.,NeilMed) to remove stubborn crust/debris in place of, or I addition to your shower.
Air dry or Pat Dry with sterile gauze—avoid cotton pads to prevent fiber residue.
Using Sterile Saline Solution for Piercings
Why store bought, Medical-Grade Saline is Essential
Isotonic & Sterile: Pre-made, store-bought saline solutions (0.9% sodium chloride) better match your body’s natural salinity levels, preventing unnecessary irritation that accompanies DIY, “at-home” saline mixes (as diy results in either a hypertonic solution or hypotonic solution, denaturing your local cells. The ideal balanced ratio of salt to water is known as an isotonic solution, meaning the concentration of salt to water matches the salinty ratio of the human body.
Infection Prevention: Using a product who’s packaging allows for the internal spray to remain sterile even after opening and using, minimizes the bacteria risk associated with homemade solutions and products made of lesser quality.
How to Use Saline Spray for Oral Piercings
Spray directly on the piercing 2x daily.
Let sit for 1–2 minutes to soften crust.
Spray away the softened debris.
Gently wipe with gauze—no twisting or over-cleaning!
Where to Buy Saline Solution for Piercings
Pharmacies (local Mom&Pop Pharmacy, CVS, Walgreens)
Online retailers (Amazon, Clementine Piercing)
Piercing studios (your APP-certified shop probably carries trusted brands like NeilMed).
What to Expect During Healing
Lip Piercing Healing Stages
Days 1-7: Swelling, tenderness, light bleeding.
Week 2-3: Exudate. (Clear, whitish/yellowish discharge which will often dry into hardened crusties on and around the piercing site. (This might look like pus, but exudation is a very normal part of the healing process for the human body.)
Week 3–6: Once the swelling subsides and remains unreactive to minimal irritation and interaction, then make an appointment to downsize your jewelry length with your local piercer.
Full Healing: 2-3+ months (refrain from consuming spicy foods, open mouth kissing and engaging in oral sex until completely healed.
Tongue Piercing Recovery Timeline
Full Healing: 8+ weeks of swelling and soreness. This time period fluctuates regarding variables surrounding the clients personal lifestyle and choices. For example, smoking will surely cause additional irritation, increase the swelling, and extend all stages of the body’s wound healing dynamics, resulting in a longer healing period and experiences more wound irritation than a non-smokers oral piercing.
Reducing Swelling in Oral Piercings
How to Reduce Tongue Piercing Swelling Fast
Dissolve ice chips (avoid chewing ice!).
Sleep elevated to minimize overnight inflammation.
Take NSAIDs (ibuprofen) as directed—avoid aspirin to reduce bleeding risk.
What to Avoid
Hydrogen peroxide based and alcohol based mouthwash, or harsh chemicals.
Playing or interacting with your jewelry (causes gum damage and migration).
Oral contact (kissing, oral sex, sharing utensils) until fully healed.
Straws or the use of any object or device that requires applied suction.
Smoking/vaping (please rinse your mouth with bottled water after the use of any tobacco, nicotine or marijuana products)
FAQs: Lip & Tongue Piercing Aftercare
Q: Where can I buy sterile saline solution for piercings?
A: Your local pharmacy most likely sells medical-grade sterile saline spray! we like wound wash by NeilMed.You can always purchase an extra can in person at Clementine or from our online store.
Q: Can I use contact solution to clean my piercing?
A: No! Contact solution contains preservatives that irritate piercings.
Q: How long does a bottom lip piercing take to heal?
A: 2-3 months total—avoid handling the piercing and changing jewelry too soon!
Q: My aftercare spray has additional ingredients other than sodium chloride and water? Does that make it better?
A: No! Stay away from any product that contains ingredients other than water and sodium chloride. A company may falsely pitch these additives as beneficial minerals, natural trace elements or healing enzymes - but anything other than sterile water and sodium chloride is not considered an acceptable saline solution.
When to See a Professional
Contact your APP-certified piercer if you experience:
Severe swelling lasting over 1 week.
Pus, fever, or throbbing pain.
Jewelry embedding into skin.
If this is an emergency, please do not hesitate to contact your healthcare professional or nearest urgent care center. Our professional opinion does not substitute for medical advice or medical intervention.