After Care

Below you will find the aftercare suggested by Tonguestud.com. There are many various opinions on aftercare. You will find other credible aftercare advice at http://safepiercing.org and http://bmezine.com.

Approximate Healing Times

You are unique. Your piercings are unique. A one size fits all healing regiment doesn't fit all. Listed below is the time period you should expect to continue cleaning and aftercare for the specified piercing. Results and experiences will certainly vary.

Daily Cleanings

We recommend Provon or Satin anti-microbial soap for the cleaning of your piercing.

Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap before any contact with your fresh piercing. Cleaning your piercing is most conveniently done in the shower. Clean around your piercing and the openings. Do not rotate your ring. If you ring does not want to move, don't force it. Simply clean the piercing thoroughly, disturbing the piercing and jewelry as little as possible. Pat your piercing dry using a cotton ball.

Below, you will find instructions for sea salt use if it suits you.

Note: Thorough cleanings with soap need only be done once daily, twice under extremely dirty circumstances. Over cleaning is probably the single most cause of irritation and delayed healing to new piercings.


Oral Piercing

For the rinsing of oral piercings we recommend a diluted mixture of Tech 2000.

Dilute the mouthwash by mixing 1 capful to 4ozs of distilled water. The suggested method is to mix 5 capfuls to a 20-oz. bottle of distilled water. This should be used to rinse after any time anything goes in your mouth besides distilled water.  Rinse for approximately 30 seconds. Some people prefer to use the sea salt mixture below

Keep up with your regular brushings to avoid a plaque build up. It is a very good idea to purchase a new toothbrush, because old ones are notorious breeding grounds for bacteria.

The swelling should subside in 10-14 days. At this point we highly recommend you get a shorter barbell. It will help you avoid tearing up your fresh piercing and could very well save your teeth.

Sea Salt Soaks

Some people find sea salts helpful. Others reserve them for an unhappy or irritated piercin. Wash your hands with an antibacterial soap before any contact with your fresh piercing. You can do sea salt soaks 2-3 times daily during your healing period. The mixture should be 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt to 8ozs of distilled water. You may wish to mix up a large batch of this by mixing 2 teaspoons of the salt to 1 gallon of distilled water. Before using, warm the amount of the solution you will need. Then you will soak your piercing in one of three ways. Where feasible, put the mixture in a cup and use the cup to form a vacuum seal, with the edge of the glass against the skin surrounding the piercing. The other two options are to put the mixture into a container and drop the piercing into it, or soaking cotton buds in the mixture and then place these around the piercing.


Do's and Don'ts

Do check threaded jewelry daily to make sure it is on tight.

Don't play with it, or ever, touch it with unwashed hands.

Don't rotate your jewelry while cleaning it or otherwise!

Do be conscious of your clothes they should be clean and they should not be putting any pressure on your new piercing.

Do be wary of your health. Avoid drug usage, get plenty of sleep and take vitamin supplements (Vitamin C, Zinc and Iron are all good).

Don't swim. Pools, lakes oceans etc. are all breeding grounds for bad things.

Do use a waterproof bandage, such as Tegaderm, if you must subject your piercing to getting wet.

Do feel free to use ice or Ibuprofen to help alleviate swelling and pain.

Don't have unprotected sex with a fresh genital piercing, not even in a monogamous relationship.

Do avoid contact with others bodily fluids near your piercing until it is fully healed.

Don't remove your jewelry if you suspect infection. It needs to remain in to allow drainage. Removing it can lead to abscess, swelling, bruising and bleeding. If you suspect an infection please call your piercer immediately.