If you’re considering getting a lip piercing, you might find the “canine bites” piercing intriguing. This piercing gets its name because it’s located around your canine teeth in your mouth. Think of it as a fusion between an “angel bite” and a “spider bite” piercing.
Some people call it “cyber bites,” it’s an excellent option for those who appreciate bold piercings with a distinctive appearance. However, before committing to this piercing, it’s essential to ensure it’s placed correctly. Combining it with other lip piercings can create a standout look, so considering a few things beforehand is worth considering.
Canine Bites Lip Piercing
The Canine Bite Lip Piercing combines elements from Snake Bite and Angel lip piercings, resulting in a bold and robust appearance. This piercing can be intimidating to some because it covers a significant portion of the area around your lips. Consequently, it’s only sometimes seen among the general population.
However, if you enjoy making a statement with your piercings and want to be part of the piercing community, the Canine Bite piercing might appeal to you. It’s crucial to ensure it’s done correctly, as even a tiny mistake in the placement can affect its appearance on your face.
For this reason, attempting this piercing on your own is strongly discouraged. Instead, it’s essential to seek the expertise of a professional piercer specialising in this type of piercing. Feel free to ask for recommendations to ensure you achieve the best results.
How Much Do Canine Bite Piercings Hurt?
Getting a Canine Bite piercing typically won’t be significantly more painful than other lip piercings, ranking in the middle on the pain scale.
However, it’s essential to consider that when you’re getting all four piercings simultaneously, you can expect some swelling and potentially more discomfort than just one or two piercings. Occasionally, your body may react to receiving multiple piercings simultaneously, possibly causing you to feel a bit shaky. It’s essential to pay attention to how your body responds and follow your piercer’s advice.
If you feel handling all four piercings at once is too much, it’s lovely to space them out over a few days to make the process more manageable.
Canine Bite Piercing Healing Process
Healing a Canine Bite piercing takes some time, typically around 8 to 12 weeks, because it involves multiple piercings. One of the most significant challenges during this healing period is dealing with noticeable swelling in your lips. Lips tend to swell more than other parts of the body, and because you’re getting four separate piercings on your lip, the swelling can be widespread and uncomfortable.
While it’s possible to get all four piercings at once, it might be better to start with either the angel or snake bite piercings first and then consider the canine bite once the initial piercings have completely healed. This can help make the healing process more manageable.
Aftercare Rules
Here are some tips to help your new canine bite piercing heal smoothly and with minimal discomfort:
- Be cautious while eating: Your unique jewellery will be longer to accommodate swelling, resulting in four metal pieces at the corners of your mouth. It’s easy to accidentally bite down on them, which could potentially damage your teeth. To prevent this, consider sticking to soft foods until the swelling subsides, and your piercer can replace the jewellery with shorter pieces.
- Use a salt solution at least twice daily: Your piercing can quickly accumulate dirt from food residue, saliva, and other external particles. Please keep it clean by soaking your piercing in a saltwater bath or using a saline solution for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse away the salt water to clean the back of your jewellery, paying extra attention to any gemstones. Avoid using mouthwash containing alcohol, which can irritate your piercing and cause significant discomfort.
- Refrain from fiddling with your jewellery: If you’re used to frequently touching your lips, this may be a challenge. However, avoiding moving your jewellery too much is essential, as excessive manipulation can lead to piercing rejection and bruising. Strive to keep it as still as possible to support proper healing.
When your piercing is healing, don’t:
Here are some essential things to keep in mind while caring for your piercing:
- Refrain from handling your piercing with unclean hands.
- Avoid oral sexual activity, such as kissing, even in a serious relationship.
- Don’t share utensils or plates with others.
- Steer clear of alcohol, especially mouthwash that contains alcohol.
- Do not soak your piercing in swimming pools, steam rooms, or natural bodies of water.
- Please wait until your piercing has completely healed before removing it.
Canine Bite Piercing Jewelry Styles
The Canine Bite piercing opens up a world of possibilities for stylish jewellery.
You can use different types of rings like captive bead rings, seamless rings, circular barbells, or labret studs.
The exciting part is mixing and matching these jewellery pieces to create your unique style.
For instance, some people prefer to wear seamless rings on their lower lips and flat back lip studs on their upper lips. If you want to be more daring, you can experiment with circular barbells for your Canine Bite piercings. Remember, while having fun with your jewellery is excellent, staying moderate is essential, so keep it stylish and balanced.
What kind of jewellery materials are available?
When it comes to piercings, the choice of material is critical, especially for mouth piercings, where the jewellery can touch your teeth and gums.
The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) recommends using high-quality materials like implant-grade metals or gold jewellery with a purity of 14-karat or higher for your initial mouth piercings.
Here are some options to consider:
Surgical steel
Surgical steel is a good choice for jewellery. Some surgical steel jewellery may contain small amounts of nickel, but for most people, it’s safe because the nickel release rate is meagre.
Titanium
Titanium is an excellent option because it’s nickel-free and safe for everyone. It’s a bit pricier than stainless steel, but it’s a perfect choice if you have metal allergies.
Niobium
Niobium is a cost-effective, lightweight metal similar to titanium, although it doesn’t have the implant-grade designation.
Gold with a carat value of 14 or higher
If you prefer gold, ensure it’s genuine gold, not just gold-plated or coated. Be cautious of terms like “golden vermeil” or “overlay,” as they involve other metals beneath a thin gold layer that can wear off or break.
Why Shouldn’t I Get A Canine Bite Piercing?
If you’re dealing with any mouth issues or find it challenging to maintain good oral hygiene, it’s wise to avoid getting an oral piercing. Bacteria in your saliva can increase the risk of infections, and introducing four new piercings can become problematic if oral care isn’t up to par.
Choosing a piercing location away from your teeth is brilliant if you’re experiencing problems like receding gums or tooth wear and tear. Otherwise, the jewellery could rub against your gums and teeth, exacerbating these issues.
Additionally, if you already sport several facial piercings, exercise caution when considering this one. While we fully support self-expression, if you aim for an extensively pierced look, go for it! However, if you prefer a more subtle appearance, be mindful that combining this shoot with other lip and facial piercings can sometimes create a crowded look on your face.
Canine Bite Piercings Risks
Whenever you get a skin piercing, there are always some risks involved.
However, if you properly care for your piercing and choose an experienced piercer, you can significantly lower these risks.
Here are some potential issues and side effects you should be aware of:
➡️ Infection: If bacteria enter your mouth through eating, touching, kissing, or oral activities, it can lead to an infection. It’s essential to be cautious to avoid bloodborne diseases like hepatitis or HIV, especially if the piercing equipment isn’t correctly sterilised.
➡️ Swelling: It’s normal to experience some swelling during the first few days after getting a piercing. Some people may boast more than others.
➡️ Damage to teeth or gums: The jewellery can rub against your gums when you talk or chew, which could cause discomfort and wear down the enamel on your teeth.
➡️ Tissue tearing or injury: Everyday tasks like putting on a sweater, brushing long hair, or kissing can accidentally catch on lip jewellery.
➡️ Nerve disruption: Although the risk is shallow, one study found a link between facial piercings and nerve damage, which in rare cases could lead to chronic pain or eye issues.
How Much Will It Cost?
Getting a canine bite piercing typically costs $30 to $60, which doesn’t include the jewellery you choose. Selecting an experienced piercer is crucial for any piercing, but it’s essential for this one because it requires precise and symmetrical placement. Therefore, be sure to find a piercer with a solid reputation and ample experience in performing canine bite piercings.
Should you get all four piercings at once?
Even though you can get all four canine bite piercings in one session, some piercers recommend waiting a few days between each. This allows any soreness to subside and makes it easier to care for your new piercing during the healing process properly.
You could also decide to have snake bites and angel bite piercings done simultaneously or in two separate sessions.
The terminology can be confusing because canine bites consist of angel and snake bites, which involve different lip piercings. Remember, canine bite piercing is the final arrangement that includes all four piercings.
What to eat during the healing process?
Following the piercing of your canine bite, it’s essential to be mindful of your food choices. It’s a smart move to opt for soft and cold foods for a period after any lip piercing. This helps reduce swelling and prevents irritation to your new piercing. It’s best to steer clear of hot and sticky foods, and chewing gum should be avoided after getting a canine bite piercing.
Spicy foods might slow the healing process, and thick, sticky foods can become attached to your piercing jewellery, which you’d want to prevent.
After a canine piercing, what may I drink?
To minimise swelling after your canine piercing, it’s a smart move to drink lukewarm water. If you need to soothe your mouth, try sucking on an ice cube. In the early stages of healing, it’s a good idea to stay away from alcohol and fizzy drinks because they might make the piercing hole expand, which could slow down the healing process.
Some folks even decide to avoid milk while their piercing is healing. You can use an alcohol-free, pH-neutral mouthwash daily to maintain mouth cleanliness and remove any leftover food or drink residue.
Read More: Labret Piercing: Everything You Need To Know
