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Oral
piercing
For tongue, lip, cheek, and labret
piercing, it is recommended to rinse the mouth after smoking, eating and drinking (except water). Listerine (or any mouthwash containing alcohol) is too harsh on the piercing and will most likely dry out the piercing, so it is recommended to get a non-alcoholic mouthwash, or a diluted saline solution, such as Biotene, or TECH 2000 or use a diluted Listerine solution (half Listerine, half water). Several companies make a alcohol-free mouthwash with sea salt as an
ingredient ( see here ). Kissing and oral sex are advised against for 4-6 weeks after the initial piercing, as are excessively hot or spicy foods. Some recommended cold foods are ice cream bars, slushies, and the like to dull the pain. Additionally, anti-inflammatory (such as ibuprofen) can help reduce swelling. Remember any organism that can live in a vagina, mouth or anus can just as easily be
transferred to a hole in the skin.
Body
piercing
Piercers generally advise using a sea salt rinse (1/8 teaspoon per 8 oz./250 ml of distilled or boiled water) (proportionate mixes are marketed and sold by some companies) or a medical saline rinse, which could be placed in a small glass and held on the piercing for about 10 minutes, not more than twice a day. The solution could also be soaked into a cotton ball and used to gently cleanse the piercing twice a day.
Over cleaning and use of inappropriate cleansing agents are common causes of irritation and redness in a piercing. Cleaning the piercing 2-3 times a day should be sufficient. Table salt Sodium Chloride is considered to be less natural than sea salt but may be less irritating in equal concentrations because table salt may be purer than sea salt. Epsom salt diluted in water is also very effective in the healing process or when swelling and pus, or other signs of a possible infection develop. Another technique is sometimes practiced in which a new piercing is left to heal completely on its own without any cleansing, under the philosophy that the body will treat it as any other minor wound. This is commonly called the LITHA method, which stands for "Leave It The Hell Alone." Piercers who use this method compare the healing process to getting stitches to heal up surgical wounds. Since one wants the body to accept the jewelry and create a clean, firm fistula, piercers who use this method advise that any solution or chemical could irritate the piercing, cause rejection, and promote scarring and keloids.
There are some rinses used in ear and body piercing aftercare that have excess chemicals that tend to hinder the healing process. For the most part, piercers agree that hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl alcohol are effective in sanitation but are too strong for fresh piercings and often result in irritated piercings or excess scar tissue.
The debate over what constitutes proper aftercare is belied by the simple fact that a healthy clean piercing that isn’t made to become irritated through harsh treatment (of any kind) will almost always heal perfectly; but personal preferences will vary.
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