Basic cleaning for your new piercing

1. Don't pick at it, play with it or touch it unless you're cleaning it.

2. Don't take aftercare advice from friends. Just because they have piercings doesn't mean they know what they're talking about.

3. Anything you'd ever put on a cut, do not put on your piercing. i.e. alcohol, peroxide, neosporine, bactine, betadine, etc, etc.

4. Clean with a mild, anti-bacterial, fragrance-free soap in the mornings. Don't scrub hard or rotate the jewelry.
5. Don't pick crusties. Gently rub it off with a clean finger and warm water.

6. Spray the piercing with an additive free saline solution, 4-5x/day (wound wash or h2ocean) and dab off excess. Or, if you prefer, soak the piercing using a mixture of 1/4tspn sea salt and 8oz warm distilled water for 10-15min nightly. This will flush out any germs and bacteria that have gotten into the piercing throughout the day, and improve cirulation and bloodflow to the area. Do this religiously everyday and the healtime will be greatly reduced with minimal chance of problems.

7. Mild discomfort is common the first few days. Feel free to take an over the counter anti-inflammatory(advil, aleve, ibuprofen)
Avoid pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, ponds, etc. during early stages of healing. Stick to showers.

8. Also, keep lotions, body washes, makeup, tanning oil, and sunblock away from the piercing. Pretty much use common sense.

Oral Piercing aftercare suggestions.

You will experience some swelling for an average of 3-5 days, depending on how well you take care of your piercing. To minimize swelling.

1. Take an over the counter anti-inflammatory (advil, aleve, ibuprofin) as needed.

2. Try to constantly be drinking ice water or gently suck on crushed ice.

3. Minimize your talking. The more you move your mouth, the more likely you are to swell.

As far as cleaning goes, rinse your mouth 5-6x/day with either an alocohol-free mouthwash (biotine, tech2000, crest) or a sea salt solution. Make sure to rinse anytime you eat or drink.

During the initial healing period, some foods may work better than others. Spicy stuff may burn, sour stuff may burn. Also, softer foods may be easier to eat. Some people are more sensitive than others. Finding whats comfortable for you might require some trial and error. A good general rule to follow is that if it hurts don't do it. Again, this is only for the beginning of the healing period.

You've probably noticed that the jewelry is a little bit longer or bigger in diameter. This is to allow room for swelling. It is recommended that you downsize the jewelry about midway through the healing. This will make it easier to eat and talk and you'll be less likely to possibly tear the piercing. Healtime varies for different piercings.

Also, avoid smoking, drinking, and listerine during healing. These are great ways to potentially get an infection.