Oral Piercing Care
The tongue is vital to the body's consumption of food and heals very quickly in most cases. Healing time is expected to be within 6 to 8 weeks. Initially, oversized jewelry is given to you to accommodate a potential for swelling. Swelling usually occurs on the second or third day and typically lasts 24 to 72 hours. The most extreme cases also may experience pain in the sinus and throat areas. Do not be alarmed. Most people experience very little pain at the time of their piercing and during their swelling period. Sucking on chipped ice during the first 48 hours may effectively reduce swelling and discomfort. Reduction of your intake of both hot and spicy food and beverages, tobacco, alcohol, and anything you think might be irritating to your mouth- especially for the first two weeks may help to reduce swelling and discomfort, and speed healing. Moreover, you may want to avoid oral contact during the six to eight week healing period. You have an open wound in your mouth, be responsible. Many people will experience a white ring of tissue developing around the opening of the piercing. This is typically natural and not a sign of infection. Although many people think it looks like some excretion, it is actually usually a scab type formation that will fall off on its own. Premature removal may encourage bleeding. Taking care of your new oral piercing is simple and most important during the first two weeks. You may want to start by purchasing a new “clean” toothbrush and a non-alcohol mouthwash like "Tech 2000", “Biotene” or “Tom’s of Maine” (artificial flavorings, saccharin, and other sweeteners are not recommended) Rinsing after you consume anything other than water (examples: food, cigarettes, kissing, etc.) will help to remove debris and rinse irritants out of the pierced area. If you must use an alcohol-based mouthwash like “Listerine”, you may want to dilute it approximately 1 part mouthwash to 1 part water to make it gentler on the natural balance of the mouth and less aggressive toward the healing cells that form within the piercing. One tablespoon of sea salt diluted in 8oz. of warm water is used by some people as a rinse also. Warm saltwater is said to also help with soreness and irritation. Twice a day you might use "Glyoxide", "Peroxyl", or similar oral wound rinse also. Once in the morning and once at night this product might be used by the instructions on the packaging. All of these products are available at your local drug store in the oral hygiene department.
Your initial jewelry may be exchanged for a smaller piece of jewelry of the same gauge after the time period specified below. Jewelry (stainless only) purchased at Sacred Heart Studio will be exchanged to a like gauged replacement for a $10.00 fee in 18g and 16g, $15.00 for 14g and 20$ for gauges 12g and thicker. You will be required to show your care sheet as your proof of purchase! Please hold onto it. Jewelry purchased outside of the studio may be downsized for a $10.00 fee in 18g. or 16g., $20.00 in 14g., and $30.00 for 12g and thicker. If you do not bring in your sheet, you may be charged for entirely new jewelry to downsize. Your downsizing must occur within 10 weeks of initial purchase, again with your dated and signed sheet as your receipt. After 10 weeks of the initial piercing Sacred Heart Studio Inc. reserves the right to revoke this offer to downsize the initially issued jewelry. If you have any questions or problems, please call us at (713-) 523-0985, contact us online through our website at www.sacredheartstudio.com, or visit the studio during business hours. Keep in mind that a brief consultation is usually required to properly assess any problems that you might have.