How To Take Care Of A Lip Piercing (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Take Care of a Lip Piercing PDF download Download Article Explore this Article parts 1 Cleaning and Caring for Your Lip Piercing 2 What to Avoid 3 Preparing for Your Lip Piercing Other Sections Expert Q&A VideoWATCH NOW Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Karissa Sanford

Last Updated: April 16, 2025 Approved

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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). wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 14 testimonials and 100% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 682,658 times.

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

Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning and Caring for Your Lip Piercing

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  1. Step 1 Clean the inside of your mouth. 1 Clean 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.
  2. Step 2 Clean the outside of the piercing and jewelry. 2 Clean 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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  3. Step 3 Soak the piercing. 3 Soak 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.
  4. Step 4 Brush and floss at least twice a day. 4 Brush 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]
  5. Step 5 Eat slowly and carefully. 5 Eat 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.
  6. Step 6 Reduce swelling. 6 Reduce swelling. Suck on small pieces of ice to alleviate pain and swelling. Pain relieving anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen can also be used.
    7. Advertisement
Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

What to Avoid

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  1. Step 1 Avoid eating, drinking, and smoking for the first 3 hours. 1 Avoid 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.
  2. Step 2 Leave the piercing alone. 2 Leave 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
  3. Step 3 Stay away from water. 3 Stay 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.
  4. Step 4 Avoid substances that could aggravate the piercing. 4 Avoid 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.
  5. Step 5 Don’t change the jewelry until your lip piercing has healed. 5 Don’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]
  6. Step 6 Maintain good oral hygiene. 6 Maintain 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.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Preparing for Your Lip Piercing

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  1. Step 1 Recognize the signs of infection. 1 Recognize 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.
    • Leave the jewelry in if you suspect an infection, but seek medical attention immediately.
  2. Step 2 Know what an allergic reaction will look like. 2 Know 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.[8]
    • 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.
    3. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

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  • Question I 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, RN Marsha Durkin, RN Registered Nurse Marsha Durkin is a Registered Nurse based in Waukegan, Illinois. With over 15 years of professional experience, she works both as a nurse and a Laboratory Information Specialist for Insight Hospital and Medical Center. Marsha received her Associate's Degree in Nursing from Olney Central College in 1987. Marsha Durkin, RN Marsha Durkin, RN Registered Nurse Expert Answer No, pus is not normal. Please see your doctor to get checked for an infection. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 47 Helpful 23
  • Question I 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, RN Marsha Durkin, RN Registered Nurse Marsha Durkin is a Registered Nurse based in Waukegan, Illinois. With over 15 years of professional experience, she works both as a nurse and a Laboratory Information Specialist for Insight Hospital and Medical Center. Marsha received her Associate's Degree in Nursing from Olney Central College in 1987. Marsha Durkin, RN Marsha Durkin, RN Registered Nurse Expert Answer If 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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 16 Helpful 19
  • Question Can you use salt that you have in the kitchen or does it have to be a certain type of salt? Community Answer Community Answer It needs to be salt without iodine and other preservatives. Sea salt works best. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 14 Helpful 102
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Tips

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Warnings

  • Consult your dentist if you suspect that your piercing is causing any issues with your teeth, gums, or tongue. Thanks Helpful 7 Not Helpful 0
  • 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. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 2
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References

  1. ↑ Karissa Sanford. Body Piercing Specialist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Karissa Sanford. Body Piercing Specialist. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ http://www.skin-artists.com/lip-ring-cleaning.htm
  4. ↑ Karissa Sanford. Body Piercing Specialist. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ Karissa Sanford. Body Piercing Specialist. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ http://www.skin-artists.com/piercing-disinfection.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.skin-artists.com/industrial-piercing-healing.htm
  8. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/allergies/nickel-jewelry-allergy

About This Article

Karissa Sanford Co-authored by: Karissa Sanford Body Piercing Specialist 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). This article has been viewed 682,658 times. 3 votes - 100% Co-authors: 51 Updated: April 16, 2025 Views: 682,658 Categories: Piercings Article SummaryX

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. Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Jade Neilson

    Jade Neilson

    Apr 5, 2016

    "I recently got my snakebites done, and I only have an oral spray for the inside of my mouth to ease swelling...." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Karissa Sanford Co-authored by: Karissa Sanford Body Piercing Specialist Co-authors: 51 Updated: April 16, 2025 Views: 682,658 100% of readers found this article helpful. 3 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote Jade Neilson

Jade Neilson

Apr 5, 2016

"I recently got my snakebites done, and I only have an oral spray for the inside of my mouth to ease swelling...." more Brooke Hegwood

Brooke Hegwood

Apr 1, 2017

"This helped me a lot, because I needed to seek some real information about a lip piercing. I like how..." more Rated this article: Kate Corrigan

Kate Corrigan

Aug 4, 2018

"It is thorough. The only item that was unclear was whether or not to take the piercings out for soaking (as it..." more D. B.

D. B.

Mar 21, 2017

"Good advice, thanks, had to start somewhere. Didn't even think to ask the piercer about maintenance, although..." more Rated this article: Melodie Marno

Melodie Marno

Jun 29, 2017

"the thing that helped me the most is how you have to wait until it fully heals in order to change it with less of a..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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