Labret Piercing Aftercare

Labret piercing is any piercing which is done in the area between the chin and the lower lip. These are several types of labret piercings which include lip labret piercing, snakebite piercing, spider bite piercing, etc. Though most people think that labret piercing is quite a new addition to the list of body piercings, it is actually not so. It was done by the male members of the Mayan civilization as a sign of their high status. However, today it is considered to be a symbol of self empowerment by both men as well as women. As labret piercing is a unique type of facial piercing, one should get it done only by a professional piercer who has an experience of doing such types of piercings. However, there are many people who have experienced problems due to their labret piercing, even after they have got it done by a professional body piercer. This usually happens because of improper labret piercing care. So, if you want to preserve your beautiful labret piercing, it is important for you to follow the tips on its aftercare very carefully.

Aftercare for Labret Piercing

Once the actual piercing is done, the responsibility of the piercer ends and yours start. The labret piercing healing process can last anywhere between 3 - 6 weeks. However, this does not mean that one can rest after this. Rather, it is important to be extremely cautious while handing the labret piercing for one year, as the chances of infection and other such problems continue for a whole year after the piercing is done. So, here are some of the steps that you have to keep in mind during the labret piercing healing process.

• During the first few days after the piercing is done, one is likely to find some swelling in the piercing area. This is quite normal and is also the reason for which the piercer uses bigger jewelry. One way of reducing the swelling is by placing some clean ice on the piercing area by wrapping it in a clean cloth.
• The most important thing is to clean the piercing area regularly. As the first three days are considered to be the most crucial ones, one must clean the piercing at least two times in day. Wash your hands well before handling the piercing to reduce the risk of infection. Clean the piercing area with anti bacterial soap on both the sides by shuffling the stud or rotating the ring.
• After three days, you can reduce the cleaning process to once a day. Apart from the antibacterial soap, soaking the piercing in saline solution will also quicken the healing process. However, never use things like rubbing alcohol, tea tree oil, Epsom salts, table salt, neosporin, etc., on the piercing area.
• The food particles are likely to get stuck near the piercing which can give rise to an infection. Hence, it is extremely crucial to wash your mouth with a mouth freshener after every meal. Buy a soft bristled toothbrush, with which you can brush your teeth without irritating the piercing.
• As I said earlier, one must not touch the piercing area other than for cleaning purpose, and hence it would be best if one does not apply makeup in that area during the healing period. Also, make sure to remove the plaque dispositions regularly near the piercing jewelry to prevent any kind of infection.
• Once you have got your labret pierced, you may have to alter your eating habits for a few days. Initially, it would be better to avoid foods that are hot, spicy, acidic as well as salty. It will be better to stick to cold foods like ice cream, fruit juices, etc., which are easy to consume. Also, consume little bits of food at a time as you may accidentally bite on the jewelry if you eat too much of food.
• Apart from food, it is also important to avoid tobacco products like cigars, cigarettes, etc. It would also be better to avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages for the first few weeks.

These are some of the instructions that you have to follow, so that your piercing heals well. Do not try to change the jewelry during the first year on your own. If you want to do so, you should always get it done by your piercer. Moreover, if you experience teeth or gum problems due to this piercing, it would be better if you get your jewelry removed as nothing is more important than your health. Though it usually takes 6 weeks for the labret piercing to heal completely, the healing capacity of each individual is different and this can affect the healing process considerably. The only thing you can do is to follow the aftercare instructions religiously, so that your labret piercing remains with you for a long time to come.