THE GOODiES >> ORAL PiERCiNG CARE

Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing or jewelry. Cleaning the ouside entrance:

Clean the outside entrance of your piercing twice a day using a liquid anti-bacterial soap.

Suggested name brands include:

• Provon (active ingredient: chloroxylenol/PCMX)
• Satin (active ingredient: chloroxylenol/PCMX)
• Softsoap (active ingredient: triclosan)

Soaps containing PCMX have been tested to be more effective against a broader ranger of bacteria and yeast than soaps containing triclosan.

Over-cleaning can irritate the piercing so do not clean more often unless the piercing has been exposed to dirt, sweat or bodily fluids. Saline solution may be used to remove dried discharge between cleanings.

Wash and rinse your hands. Remove any dried discharge from the jewelry using a cotton swab and warm water before rotating the jewelry; do not use your fingernails. Apply the soap around the piercing and work it into a lather while rotating the jewelry for at least 15 seconds. All the lather to saturate the piercing for approximately 3 minutes. Rinse your piercing, jewelry, and the surrounding area thoroughly under running water. While rinsing, rotate the jewelry several times.

Do not use a washcloth or sponge to clean your piercing. Cloths and sponged trap and collect bacteria and mildew.

Rinse your piercing and jewelry thoroughly with water after showering or bathing to remove soap residues.

Dry the piercing using tissue or cotton swabs. Bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments.

If using soap is too difficult because of the location of your piercing, you may use an antiseptic containing benzalkonium chloride or benzethonium chloride. Suggested brands include Sensitive Ears and Pleasurable Piercings Topical Care. Do not use a solution containing isopropyl alcohol. Remove dried discharge using a cotton swab and hot water, or the antiseptic solution before rotating the jewelry; do not use your fingernails. The disinfectant should be applied to both entrances while rotating the jewelry. Rinsing the piercing under running water is suggested to remove any bacteria or antiseptic residues.

Saline solution should be used to clean the inside entrance of nostril piercings.

DO NOT use Betadine (povidone-iodine), isopropyl rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or Hibiclens to clean your piercing. DO NOT use antibiotic ointments. Antibiotic ointments are contraindicated for use in puncture would and for the extended period of time required for healing a piercing. Ointments do not clean the piercing.

After the healing process is complete, you should continue to clean your piercing once a day as part of your bathing or showering routine to prevent build-up of dirt and dead skin cells.

Cleaning the inside entrance:

Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash for 30 seconds after eating or drinking anything other than water. Alcohol-free Biotene, Rembrandt, and Tech 2000 mouthwashes are suggested. Listerine is not recommended because of its higher alcohol content and frequency of usage. After using the mouthwash, rinse with water to remove the mouthwash residues.

Reduce smoking to a minimum while the piercing is healing. Not smoking at all is better. Use of chewing tobabbo products is highly discouraged if one has oral piercings, new or healed. Avoid consuming very hot of spicy foods and drinks during the healing period.

Labret studs accumulate plaque around the disc. Plague traps bacteria and can be irritating. Using an anti-plaque rinse will usually prevent this accumulation.

Remember, NO oral contact during the healing process. This includes wet kissing and oral sex. The most frequent causes of infection are touching the piercing or the jewelry with unwashed hands or contact with unclean items such a bedding, or hair. Do not allow your piercing to come into contact with cosmetics, lotions, perfumes, or hairsprays.

Get a new toothbrush; an old toothbrush is haven for bacteria. Do not chew on pens or other items, or share eating utensils and glasses.

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