The lip is a popular site for body piercing and, as such, many styles of lip piercing have been popularized. Some styles are particular to the sort of jewelry that is to be worn there; a stud, for instance, can be placed in a location where a ring would be impractical or impossible. The most common piercing for the lip is probably the labret (la-BRAY), a term that usually describes most any lip piercing of the lower lip somewhat above the chin. Lip piercings may, however, go through the upper lip or they may be offset to one side. The "Monroe" or "Madonna" is a stud placed to the extreme side of the upper lip to resemble a beauty mark. Most studs placed in a lip piercing will have a specially flattened back to minimize trauma to the gums and teeth.

While their locations may vary, most lip piercings should be cared for in more or less the same way--with exceptional care. Even the healthiest mouth is full of bacteria, many of which can infect your piercing (which is, essentially, a wound) and complicate its healing process or even necessitate its removal. You should take special care with any lip piercing to ensure that it heals quickly and properly, and the best way to do so is to clean it properly and regularly.

Unlike other body piercings, which should be cleaned once or twice a day, you should use the proper mouthwash with your lip piercing as many as four or five times a day, especially during the early healing period. Be sure to find an alcohol-free mouthwash, one that is specially marked as such. Most mouthwashes (e.g. Listerine, Scope) contain high quantities of alcohol, which, though an effective sterilizer, will damage the healing tissue of your piercing and extend your recovery considerably. You should use this mouthwash after any meals and at bedtime to ensure your piercing remains free of infection.

While the mouthwash will take care of the inside half of your piercing, you need to clean the outside, too. Begin by washing your hands or taking a thorough shower. A shower is often better as the heat and steam from the water will help to loosen the dried discharge surrounding a fresh piercing, making it easier and safer to clean. Use an additive-free saline soak or a sea-salt solution on your piercing for one or two minutes before cleaning, either by soaking your lip directly in a cup of the solution or by applying it with a sterile cotton ball. Now use an unscented anti-bacterial soap, dabbed gently to the outside of your piercing with another moist cotton ball. Rotate your jewelry gingerly while you let the soap set, allowing it to permeate the piercing and kill any bacteria that may be taking hold there. When you are finished, dry the outside of your piercing gently with a fresh tissue, not a cloth towel. Cloth towels are a common source of bacterial infection. Repeat this process twice a day for the first week and once a day thereafter as your piercing heals. If you notice irritation or extreme dryness, make your cleanings less frequent or less extensive until you find a level that is comfortable for you.

During the healing period, treat your piercing as an open wound. Avoid foods that you find irritate it and be exceptionally careful to avoid any trauma to the area. Performing oral sex with a healing lip piercing is especially inadvisable because it exposes the area to physical trauma and bacteria both. Having an open wound in your mouth can also make you additionally susceptible to STD transmission during oral sex, as your blood can come into direct contact with sexual fluids.