Lip piercing styles and designs are great as you get more jewellery and options. You can choose a piercing that is subtle and simple, like plain lip studs, or you can go for something bold and intense, like bite-piercing gemstones.
One type of lip piercing is called a snakebite piercing. You actually have two piercings, one on each side of your mouth, and they resemble a snake’s fangs.
Healing a snakebite piercing is similar to healing a regular lip piercing, but since there are two piercings, there are some things you need to keep in mind. We at Piercebody.com have this guide for snakebite piercing.
Simple Snake Bite Process
To get a piercing, it is done four times. The person doing the piercing might use a clamp to tighten the skin or not, depending on what they like. First, a needle is pushed into the skin, and then a labret or barbell for lip piercing is placed behind it. After the needle goes through, the piercer puts on jewellery to make sure it stays in position.
Snake Piercing Pain Level
People experience pain in their own way, so what is painful for one person may not be for another. It’s crucial to understand how much pain you can handle so you’re ready for this piercing. On average, people say that the snakebite piercing is in the middle to lower range on the pain scale. You will feel a little pinch, but it shouldn’t be too bad. If you have had your cartilage pierced before, the snakebite piercing is likely to be less painful than that.
Healing Process
Once you get the piercing, the hardest part is actually taking care of it while it heals.
For a snakebite piercing, it usually takes at least four to eight weeks to fully heal. It’s important to have a professional piercer check that the piercing is completely healed before you stop taking care of it, as some people may take longer to heal.
While your piercing is getting better, clean it two to three times each day with a special saline solution designed for piercings. Remember to clean both the front and back of the jewellery to keep it germ-free.
Snake Bite Aftercare Tips
Taking good care of your piercings is really important until they are completely healed. If you don’t keep them clean or follow the aftercare instructions, your shark bite piercings can get deformed or infected with harmful bacteria.
It’s especially important to prevent infections because our mouths have a lot of bacteria.
To keep your piercings in good shape, do the following:
- Clean the outside with saline solution. You can put them in the solution or use a cotton swab to apply it gently.
- Use mouthwash for the inside, but make sure it’s alcohol-free to avoid irritation and help with healing.
- Avoid touching the piercings with your hands. Touching them can interrupt the healing process and cause problems.
Jewellery Selection for Snake Bite Piercing
After your snakebite piercing is all better and your piercer says it’s okay, you can enjoy picking out new jewellery for it. For snakebite piercings, you can use the same type of jewellery as you would for a side labret piercing. This includes flat back studs, circular barbells for snake bite piercing, seamless hoops, and captive bead rings.
When choosing studs, it’s essential to pick ones with a flat back. This way, the jewellery won’t rub against your teeth and gums, which could lead to wearing down the enamel and causing gums to recede.
If you choose circular barbells or captive bead rings, make sure the ball ends stay on the outside of your mouth. If they shift to the inside, you may accidentally bite on them, which could cause issues with your oral health.
How to Change Jewellery
Once all four of your piercings have completely healed, you can start changing the jewellery to different styles if you want to. But make sure the piercings are completely healed first. Otherwise, they could get irritated or infected.
How you switch the jewellery depends on what kind of piercing you have. For a labret piercing, you unscrew the removable part, slide out the back from inside your mouth, slide in the new jewellery, and screw the removable part back on.
If you have a barbell piercing, here’s what you do: take off the small ball at the front, slide the bar out from your mouth, replace it with a new bar, and put the new ball back on.
If you’re confident and know exactly how to do it without hurting your piercings, you can do it yourself. But if you’re unsure, it’s best to ask a professional for help.
Now that you understand everything about the snakebite piercing, what are you waiting for? As long as you take care of it while it’s healing, watch out for any potential issues with your mouth, and do the proper research to find a great piercer, this can be a piercing that you have enjoyed for a long time.