It is said that our mouths are dirtier than a toilet seat. I don’t know about you, but that kind of freaks me out.

This is the main reason why it is vital to keep up with our dental hygiene. This means that we should brush our teeth at least twice to thrice a day, use a good dental floss, and rinse our mouths with a mouthwash. These things eliminate dirt and bacteria inside our whole mouths, keeping it cleaner than a toilet bowl.

Getting an Oral Piercing

So now, you just got a new oral piercing. This is where it gets tricky, as you would have to think about keeping the piercing clean inside of your mouth. Not following your piercer’s aftercare instructions can lead to an infection or a bacteria-infested piercing, and nobody wants that.

It does not matter if it is a tongue, cheek, or lip piercing – you still have to follow the proper aftercare to make sure that your piercing will heal in no time.

Risks and Symptoms Associated with Oral Piercing Infection

Every type of piercing comes with different types of risks and oral piercings are no exception. Watch out for these risks and symptoms that we will be talking about below so you are aware of what can happen with your oral piercing.

1. Swelling and Pain – Both swelling and pain are quite common after getting your piercing done. However, when the pain and swelling lasts for a couple of days and it seems to get worse rather than heal, then it is time to call your doctor. A swollen tongue can close your airway and can contribute to difficulty in breathing.
2. Continuous Bleeding – Sure, bleeding is normal when getting a piercing, besides, a foreign object or needle is being injected in your lip or tongue. The bleeding should stop in a couple of minutes though, and if it does not stop and you are still tasting blood in your mouth, then tell your piercer about it right away and ask them what you should do. Blood loss can be extremely dangerous, so make sure to contact a healthcare professional if ever this happens.
3. Gum Injury – Your jewelry, especially if it is made of metal, can injure your soft gum tissue and may even cause it to recede. This will be very unattractive to look at, not to mention the rot that it can leave your teeth due to a periodontal disease. Make sure to talk to your piercer and ask them the best type of jewelry to use for your oral piercing.
4. Cracked Teeth – Additionally, your metal jewelry can also contribute to cracked teeth, especially if it comes into contact with it quite often. Those with fake or restored teeth are more prone to cracks and injury, so make sure to mention this to our piercer so he would know how to properly place the jewelry inside your mouth.
5. Difficulty in Speaking – You will notice that you won’t be able to talk well right after getting your piercing. You have to be prepared for this, as this can last temporarily or even permanently. Your piercing can also cause an extreme build up of saliva in your mouth, which can be pretty obvious during the first few days after getting your tongue pierced.
6. Infection – You risk getting an infection once you get an oral piercing. Actually, every type of piercing has a high chance of giving you an infection. Be sure to choose your piercer and piercing salon wisely, and make sure that they practice a safe and hygienic piercing process.

What to do to Avoid Getting an Infection

You definitely can avoid getting an infection even with a new oral piercing. Follow these tips below to make sure your oral health stays on top even after getting an oral piercing.

1. Brush your Teeth – Make it a point to brush your teeth after every meal. Follow this tip until your medusa piercing heals completely to make sure that your mouth stays clean and healthy while it is still on its way to healing. Be careful not to brush your piercing, as this can irritate it and can lead to an infection.
2. Floss – Make sure to floss at least once a day to make sure that the gunk and dirt on your teeth are all gone. Again, make sure to floss carefully and be aware not to tug on your piercing. You should never take out the jewelry before the piercing wound heals, so make sure to floss very gently.
3. Rinse with Sea Salt Mixture and a Mouthwash – The best way to clean any piercing is with a mixture of sea salt plus warm water. Mix the salt and warm water together and stir until you see that the salt has completely dissolved in the water. Put it inside your mouth and gargle for a couple of minutes. This cleans not only your mouth but your piercing wound as well. After this, you can use a mouthwash with no alcohol in it to make sure that your mouth is completely clean.
4. Avoid Smoking – Nicotine can build up in and around your jewelry which can lead to an infection. Make sure to avoid smoking until your piercing would has completely healed to avoid getting an infection.
5. Do Not Touch it – Avoid touching your piercing, as your hands can contain hundreds and thousands of bacteria that can infect your piercing. If you ever need to touch your oral piercing, make sure that your hands are clean and that you have washed it with soap and rinsed it properly.

Maintaining a good oral hygiene and following these tips will lead to a fully-healed wound in no time. Always listen to your piercer when it comes to the aftercare and take down notes if you have to!

Takeaway

Always be informed and do your research when it comes to keeping your mouth clean after getting an oral piercing. Follow your piercer’s instructions and you will be good to go! Stay clean and healthy!

Author’s Bio

Tephanie Stephenson has extensive knowledge when it comes to body and facial piercings. She has seen it all – from nostril piercings all the way to nipple piercings. She has over 10 piercings including a nostril, medusa, eyebrow, tragus, earlobe, and industrial. She is an expert when it comes to cleaning piercings and keeping it infection-free.