Cleaning Supplies Needed:

Non-iodized sea salt mixture:
-Mix 1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into 1 cup (8oz) water. 
**During week 1 use cold water to help reduce swelling, and after that use warm to hot water until your piercing is completely healed.  Careful not to burn yourself with hot water!

Liquid antibacterial or anti-microbial soap:
-Needs to be free of dyes and perfumes.
-Provon & Dial are two examples that you can use. 

Mouthwash or rinse:
-Must be alcohol free! (ACT, Rembrandt, Biotene, and Triad all work well)

Cleaning Instructions for Oral Piercings:                


Wash your hands thoroughly prior to cleaning or touching on or near your piercing.

Sea Salt: Rinse/soak your piercing at least two times daily.  To soak simply invert a cup of salt water over the area to form a vacuum for 5-10 minutes.  Make sure your piercing is submerged for the entire soaking time.  To rinse swish the sea salt mixture in your mouth for 10 seconds. 

Soap: with clean hand lather the soap in your hands again and then apply around and on the part of the piercing tha is outside your mouth.  Rinse the soap completley.  Failure to do so may cause irritation.  This should be done at least daily, more if needed.  Tongue piercings do not need to do this!

Dry: gently pat dry with disposable paper products such as gauze or paper towels.

Mouth wash: rinse with mouthwash at least twice a day.  This is very important, along with brushing your teeth and tongue!
Remember to measure your salt & water exactly!
A mixture that's too strong will dry out your piercing.
**Distilled or bottled water is preferred!
What is normal?
  • Initially, some bleeding, localized swelling, redness, tenderness or bruising.  You did just put a small hole through your body so it will get a little inflamed.
  • During healing: some discoloration, itching, secretion of a whitish-yellow fluid (not pus) that will form crust on the jewelry.  Crusties can be removed during washing and sea salt soaks.  The tissue may tighten around the jewelry as it heals.
  • Once healed: the jewelry may not move freely in the piercing.  DO NOT force it!  If you fail to include cleaning your piercing as part of your daily hygiene routine; normal but smelly bodily secretions may accumulate.
  • A piercing may seem healed before healing is complete.  This is because piercings heal from the outside in, an although it feels healed the tissue remains fragile inside.  BE PATIENT, and keep cleaning throughout the entire healing period!
What To Do:
  • Wash your hands prior to touching the piercing; leave it alone except when cleaning.  Do not rotate the jewelry while healing.
  • Make sure that your jewelry and skin is free from any discharge before you attempt to move the jewelry.  Irritation can occur when crusty matter is accidentally forced into the piercing.
  • Stay healthy!  The healthier your lifestyle, the easier it will be for your piercing to heal.  Exercise during healing is fine, just "listen" to your body.
  • Make sure your bedding is kept clean and changed regularly.  Wear clean, comfortable, breathable clothing that protects your piercing while sleeping.
  • Crushed ice or cold things will help with swelling and make it feel better.
What To Avoid:
  • Keep your hands off! Your hands are full of germs and bacteria that could cause an infection.
  • Never use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, Bacitracin, Neosporin, or any other harsh chemicals.
  • Avoid stress and recreational drug use including excessive caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol.
  • Avoid undue trauma such as friction from clothing, excessive motion of the area, playing with the jewelry and vigorous cleaning.  These activities can cause the formation of unsightly and uncomfortable scar tissue, migration, prolonged healing and other complications.
  • Avoid over cleaning.  This can delay your healing and irritate the piercing.
  • Avoid oral contact, rough play, and contact with other bodily fluids on or near your piercing during healing.
  • Avoid submerging the piercing in bodies of water such as lakes, pools, hot tubs, etc. 
  • Avoid all beauty an personal care products on or around the piercing including cosmetics, lotions, sprays, etc.
Signs of Infection:
  • The skin around the piercing site is excessively warm or hot to the touch.
  • Redness or red streaks around the piercing site, excessive swelling or a foul smelling discharge of thick black, brown, or green pus coming from the piercing.
  • If you think your piercing may be infected have one of our piercers look at it, if it appears to be infected and not just normal healing we will instruct you to seek medical attention immediately.