Oral Aftercare Instructions
Axiom Body Piercing Studio Oral Aftercare Instructions
Thanks for choosing the Axiom for your piercing. Here at the Axiom, we believe our job isn't done until the piercing is completely healed, which is why we encourage follow-ups and questions. If you turn this sheet over, you will find all our contact information, including the studio number, our e-mail, and website address. We guarantee our piercing for up to a year under regular use, provided you follow the aftercare instructions and have the receipt.
Here's what you will need to heal the piercing:
A non-alcohol-based antiseptic mouthwash. I suggest Biotene Antiseptic.
Non-iodized Sea Salt
Distilled Water
Sterile Gauze Sponges
Healing Stages: Healing can be divided into two stages:
During the first stage, your body produces a tunnel of tissue around the piercing and the jewelry. It is during this stage that the piercing is, in fact, an open wound, more prone to infection and less likely to close. This information outlines the steps to be taken to minimize this issue. Due to the fact that everyone heals at different paces, the healing time could be shorter or longer than the minimum healing time listed. So, if the piercing seems healed, but you're unsure. Stop by the piercing studio and ask a professional.
The second stage is called the seasoning or toughening period. During this stage, your body adds layer upon layer of tissue to the tunnel, making the piercing more permanent. This stage can take 1 to 3 years to complete, and removing the jewelry for extended periods can result in loss or closure of the piercing. A good rule is to leave the piercing in if you like it. Oral piercings are more prone than other piercings to closing even after many years. With oral piercings, you should only remove jewelry to immediately replace it.
NORMAL REACTIONS: Everyone's body reacts differently, but common reactions are:
Slight bleeding off and on for the first few days.
Tenderness. Itchiness, slight bruising, and slight redness for the first week to two weeks on or around the piercing.
Inside the mouth, it’s common to see the secretion of a yellowish/whitish fluid that hangs on the ring throughout the healing time, called Lymph Discharge. Outside the mouth, this often crusts and hardens on the jewelry.
A tightening around the jewelry occurs throughout the healing time.
Swelling for the first 3-5 days.
A white ring of tissue around the piercing holes. This is scar tissue.
Nesting where the jewelry ends, making an indentation on the inside of the mouth, is common.
Basic Care:
Rinse with antiseptic mouthwash for 30 seconds, two to three times daily, for the first 2 to 4 weeks, or until the piercing is healed.
Warm sea salts rinse two to three times daily for 3-5 minutes. Take a cup (8oz) of distilled water, heat it in the microwave to a comfortable warm temperature, then add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt. Rinse and swish it around your mouth for 3-5 minutes.
With Labret, lip cheek, beauty mark, etc., piercing, you must also follow the aftercare instructions outlined in “Axiom Body Piercing Studio Aftercare Instructions”.
Reducing Swelling:
Swelling can be significantly reduced by reducing your intake of alcohol, tobacco, spicy foods, hot foods, and other irritants.
Gently sucking on crushed ice and drinking ice water.
Taking ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin). Do not take ibuprofen on an empty stomach.
Do Not Play with the piercing. Movement and abuse will increase swelling.
With tongue piercing, reducing the amount of talking you do for the first few days can reduce swelling.
Sleeping with your head elevated above your heart will help reduce swelling.
What Kinds of Food Are Best?
Cold items include smoothies, applesauce, frozen yogurt, ice cream, baby food, Jell-O, and soup broth (not tomato-based) at room temperature. It is best to stick to a soft-food diet until the swelling reduces, and then gradually reintroduce solid foods when you feel comfortable. Always be cautious and take your time. If it takes you half an hour to eat one meal, it’s better than causing damage to your teeth and/or gums. Additionally, I strongly recommend consuming 2 to 3 cartons of yogurt daily. Yogurt can reduce the likelihood of Thrush.
Removing Jewelry and Downsizing Jewelry:
With Tongue piercings, the jewelry length should be reduced within 7 -10 days. Please do not remove the jewelry for any reason while it is healing, and even after it is healed, only remove it to replace it, because you produce tissue in your mouth so quickly. It is not uncommon to remove jewelry for short periods, which can cause the hole to close even in healed piercings.
Jewelry Types and Materials:
Avoid jewelry that is too long or has overly large ends, objects with sharp edges, or items that hang off the ends. Additionally, vibrating or glow-in-the-dark ends are hazardous and not recommended. The jewelry should be made of a material that will not deteriorate in the mouth. Materials like Implant Grade Steel and Titanium are best. Gold should be at least 14kt and be solid, not plated or filled. Acrylic and medical plastics, as they are not certified biocompatible, are not recommended due to the risk of exposure to toxins.
Lip Piercing - Depending on the placement of the piercing, Labret studs or circular jewelry are the best options.
Labret-Style Piercings and Tongue Piercings: a straight barbell with a flat disc on one side is best. Due to the piercing location and angle, they would need to be oversized to wrap around the tissue, increasing the likelihood of damage.
Precautions & Abuse:
Check the tightness of the balls on a barbell to avoid ball loss.
Do not play with or pull on the piercing, or over-handle it, until it is fully healed. Do keep in mind that playing with the piercing, even after it is healed, increases the risk of damage to teeth, bones, and gums.
Cross Contamination Prevention:
No oral contact/wet mouth kissing and sexual contact with the piercing for the first 8 weeks. Understand that even with a well-healed oral piercing, you are more susceptible to STDs during oral sex. So, please practice Safe Sex.
Also, avoid putting things in your mouth that may introduce harmful bacteria, such as unwashed hands, pens, toothpicks, etc.
Always wash your hands with antibacterial soap before handling the piercing or jewelry.
Do not share food items or utensils with others. Make sure that your own utensils are clean.
INFECTIONS:
CAUSES: Infection is caused by contact with bacteria, fungi, and/or other pathogens. These can be caused by contact with dirty hands. Oral contact (including your own saliva), exchanging of bodily fluids, hair, cosmetics, oils, unwashed clothing/bedding/towels, and or submerging the piercing into natural waters, hot tubs, swimming pools, and or unclean bathtubs. Understand that even with a Tongue piercing, you are likely to swallow water when swimming.
Signs: Redness, discoloration, swelling, heat/fever, on or around the piercing, pain that is throbbing and/or shooting/travels, pus, and/or discharge that is unusual in color, like grayish, yellowish, and/or greenish.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? First, contact your piercer to have them examine it. The two worst things you can do are putting it off and/or removing the jewelry. Both can cause the infection to spread if left untreated. When in doubt, see your doctor.
The Axiom @ SKT/3800Douglas Ave / Des Moines, Iowa 50310
515-262-5989 / Mobile / Google # 515-966-4814 . Mobile 515-803-7009
E-mail davo@axiompiercing.com/web site http://www.axiompiercing.com / Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Axiompiercing
DaVo’s Personal Site - http://davoaxiom.com
Copyright 1994-2018 The Axiom/David “DaVo” Wilkins
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