Labret Piercing Information & Aftercare Guide

The labret piercing has a long and rich cultural history, spanning many ancient cultures and being part of ritualistic practices. It has surged in popularity as a form of modern expression. Want to learn what a labret piercing is and how to care for one? Read on as we explore how it’s pronounced, its placement, the types of jewelry you can wear, and specific aftercare instructions.

What Is a Labret Piercing?

The name labret piercing, pronounced Lay-BRET, comes from the Latin word labrum, which means lip. Technically, a labret piercing can be any lower lip piercing. However, some piercers use the word labret specifically for the center placement along the lower lip. Today, we’re going to be focusing specifically on this centrally placed piercing.

Labret Piercing Placement

As mentioned above, a labret piercing most often refers to the piercing that goes through the center of the bottom lip. However, it doesn’t just get centered on your bottom lip, it also needs to be placed so that it is aligned with the center of your face. Ensure you allow the piercer to take their time and mark you so it doesn’t look out of place.

Additionally, the piercing cannot be placed too low. The lower the piercing, the more likely it is to cause gum erosion, as the flatback disc of the jewelry rubs against the gums.

Labret Piercing Jewelry

One of the things that makes this piercing so popular is the variety of labret piercing jewelry available. When you’re initially pierced, you should start with a labret stud. This is because a stud is better suited to accommodate for any swelling. If you started with a ring, it would need to be large in diameter and just flop to the side, which isn’t a good look.

When the piercing is fully healed, you can switch to a ring. Available ring styles include seamless rings, captive rings, and circular barbells.

How Much Does a Labret Piercing Hurt?

You might think a lip piercing would hurt if you’ve ever bitten your lip or burned it. That’s because there are a lot of nerve endings in the mouth. Fortunately, a lip piercing hurts less than accidentally biting it. This is because there’s only one puncture to make. It’s also because the piercing goes through the area just under the lip rather than the lip itself.

A labret piercing is rated four on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most painful.

How Long Does It Take for a Labret Piercing to Heal Fully?

One of the great things about labret piercings is how fast the mouth heals. A labret piercing takes six to eight weeks to heal fully. In other words, it takes a month and a half to two months.

How Much Does a Labret Piercing Cost?

The price of a labret piercing varies from shop to shop and piercer to piercer. Rather than seek out who has the best price, seek out who you think is the best piercer in your area. Ensure they’re experienced with placing the piercing so it doesn’t cause gum or tooth damage.

Labret Piercing Aftercare

Downsizing

When you first get pierced, you are fitted with a much longer post than necessary to accommodate any swelling. A crucial part of the aftercare process is getting your jewelry downsized. This can typically occur about three or four weeks into the healing process. Not downsizing could damage your teeth or gums, as the longer post may begin to rub against them or cause you to bite down on it. It can also cause migration issues by altering the piercing’s angle due to its excessive length.

Cleaning

Unlike ear piercings where you can just use a saline spray and keep it clean, cleaning labret piercing is a much more involved process. First, you must keep the area inside your mouth clean. To do so, you must brush and floss your teeth daily to preserve good oral hygiene. Next, you’ll have to purchase some alcohol and menthol-free mouthwash. Make sure the mouthwash does not have any whitening chemicals as well. Wash your mouth with the mouthwash at least twice daily, though it helps if you do it after every meal.

You will still need saline spray, like the kind made by NeilMed or H2Ocean, for the outside of the lip. Spray the area twice daily and pat it dry with pointed makeup Q-tips.

Don’t Touch or Play With It

Believe us, we know how tempting it can be to fidget with the new piercing because it feels different or you know it’s there. Unfortunately, this is the last thing you want to do, as it can lead to irritation or infection. You shouldn’t touch your piercing except when cleaning it. If you ever need to touch your piercing, wash your hands.

Be Careful What You Eat & While You Eat

When you first get pierced, your mouth will be slightly sensitive. To avoid irritation, you should avoid acidic, salty, spicy, and very hot food and beverages. When you’re first getting used to having the piercing or before you downsize, you’re more susceptible to accidentally bite down on the jewelry. Take your time when you eat and chew slowly to make yourself less prone.

No Kissing

Yes, it’s dreadfully hard, but you should avoid kissing and oral play while your labret piercing is healing. Both these activities can introduce other people’s bacteria, leading to an infection if you’re not careful. Wait until your piercing has healed before resuming these activities.

FAQ

How do you hide a labret piercing?

Hiding a labret piercing is pretty simple. If you must hide yours for work or from your parents, read our guide.