A lip piercing or labret piercing is accomplished by inserting a piece of jewelry through the lip. It is very popular among the fashionable youth, who want to make bold statements. This look can be further improved with an array of jewelry options ranging from curved barbells to hoops to stone studs.
Though the versatility is immense, with labret piercing, you run the risk of harming your oral health with a labret piercing. Thankfully, you can reduce the damage and keep up your graceful smile while still having a labret piercing.
Does Labret Piercing Hurt?
Considering lip piercing, the pain you will have to bear is minimal, and most people can tolerate it without a fuss. Also, it requires a single punching which means the pain would disappear in one swift move. Experts suggest fitting a larger labret stud to make room for swelling. This is because if the labret stud is tiny, the jewelry may get embedded in the skin.
You may even have to undergo invasive surgeries to fix the issue. Also, you should be careful that the jewelry is not pushing the piercing while it heals.
During the first few days of your piercing, you are likely to feel a throbbing pain along with some swelling. This is the start of the healing process, and you should be watchful of the area during this phase. If the swelling doesn’t mitigate after a few days or if you see blood or other fluid oozing out of the area, it could be an infection. You should immediately apply disinfecting cream and consult an expert.
How to Protect Your Teeth and Gums With Labret Piercing?
There are several preventive measures you can take, to spare your teeth and gums from damage. The first thing is to look for an experienced and trusted expert for your labret piercing. Someone who has years of experience will get you a safe piercing hat that will not interfere with your oral health.
Another safety practice is to remove the jewelry while you brush your teeth, eat, sleep or undertake any strenuous activity. This will prevent damage to your gums and teeth when you have no control over your teeth and the piercing.
If you have a labret piercing, maintaining your oral health is the topmost concern for you. Any surgical procedure, however small or big, carries risk. Consulting an expert and seeking a second opinion can always protect you from unwanted damage.
What Happens When You Don’t Take Proper Oral Care?
The risk of infection is a cause of concern if you already have a labret piercing or willing to get one. Many people don’t even realize the damage brought about by the constant rubbing between the teeth and the piercing.
When the piece of jewelry comes in contact with your gum and teeth, it will gradually wear off the protective sheath of the teeth. Piercings on the tongue and lip may also come in contact with the gum, causing a recession. When this happens, the tooth root starts getting exposed and allows the building up of bacteria. And left unaddressed, this can even lead to loss of your tooth.
Teeth can be directly afflicted by labret piercing. When the jewelry strokes the teeth, and there is enamel loss, it may also cause deformation. Many people also complain of chips or cracks in their teeth.
Does Labret Piercing Leave a Hole?
It might take three to four months for a lip piercing to close up completely, and they may prove to be slightly faster than the other piercings in the body. So, if you want to get rid of the piercing, all you have to do is remove the jewelry for a long time. But this is applicable only if you had the piercing for a considerable time.
If you just had the piercing and you change your mind within a few days, you will have to give the wound adequate time to heal. When you fail to do this, your piercing will close very quickly; sometimes, this may happen within a day.
If you have to take it out for your work, remember to put it back as early as possible. However, you will not have to deal with this problem after a year or so. You can leave your labret jewelry for days without any worries.
How to Deal With the Scar?
A concern for most people with labret piercing is that whether it will leave back any unwanted scar. But it mostly leaves a small dot at the beginning, which gradually settles to nothing with time. But the size of the hole is an important consideration here. If you had a larger gauge than the standard 14g, it might leave behind slight scarring.
Also, it can have a negative impact on the elasticity of your skin. If you want to get rid of the scars faster, you can consider using the scar-removal creams or moisturizer with Vitamin E. Bleaching the skin with lemon juice helps complete the scar.
While scarring is something you want to do away with, you shouldn’t take chances of infection lightly. If the piercing gets infected, then it may cause tissue damage which will hinder the healing process. Therefore, you should keep a close eye on the spot of piercing and always clean the area with saline solution. A disinfectant cream is also useful. You shouldn’t touch the area and wash it from time to time.
If you love body piercing and planning to get one on your lips, it is a great way to accentuate your beauty. But it involves the question of how the spot will look without jewelry. Moreover, oral health always requires more priority than an alternative style statement.
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