August 31, 2024

Angel Fangs: Danger, Price, Pain, Healing, Jewelry, Sizes, Aftercare

As far as facial piercings go, the area around the lips and mouth has always been popular for piercing placement. The labret piercing, the side labret piercing, the vertical labret piercing, and the Monroe piercing are especially trendy in the twenty-first century. It might be difficult to feel like a true individual if you go for one of these popular options.

Fortunately, there are wide variety of piercing styles that are unique, interesting to look at, and slightly more obscure than the ubiquitous labret, such as the angel fangs piercing.

What is the Angel Fangs Piercing?

Angel fangs piercings are essentially two adjacent, vertical piercings on the upper lip, placed on either side of the philtrum. These piercings pass through the outer flesh of your lip without entering your mouth and are unlikely to damage your teeth.

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After healing, the go-to jewelry for this piercing is a curved barbell with balls and/or spikes. When the balls or the spikes on the lower end of the bar peek out from under the upper lip, it can give the impression of fangs, hence the name.

Angel Fangs vs Angel Bites (Reverse Angel Fangs)

Angel bite piercings are also called reverse angel fangs piercing. They are double piercings with two symmetrical piercings on either side of the upper lip.

Reverse angel fangs will require the needle to be inserted from inside the lip. The main appeal of reverse angel fangs is that the upper balls on the barbells won't be visible.

You should note that it can result in more complications than the regular angel fangs piercing.

On the other hand, regular angel fangs entail inserting the needle from the outside of the lip. After jewelry is inserted, both ends of the barbell will be visible.

Angel Fangs Piercing Price

How much do angel fangs piercings cost? Angel fangs piercings cost between $60 and $120 and vary depending on location, the piercer's experience, and the jewelry.

Angel Fangs Pain Level

Do angel fangs hurt? In general, pain associated with angel fang piercings is a 3 to 5 on a scale from 1 to 10. Because the upper lip is sensitive, angel bites may hurt more than lower lip piercings.

Pain is subjective and dependent upon individual tolerance and the thickness of your lip. An experienced piercer will ensure you are relaxed during the procedure, which may decrease your pain level.

How Long Do Angel Fangs Take To Heal?

While keeping any new piercing clean is essential, it is vital for lip piercings. If you follow aftercare instructions, your angel fangs should heal within 12 to 16 weeks. However, complications can lead to a longer healing time.

Do Angel Fangs Damage Teeth?

Not really. Most lip piercings can affect your oral health to some degree. However, angel fangs are unlikely to damage your teeth because the jewelry passes through the outer flesh of your lip without entering your mouth.

As long as the piercing is placed correctly, the jewelry is the appropriate size for your anatomy, and you are keeping your piercing clean, your teeth should be safe from this particular piercing.

On the other hand, reverse angel fangs (also known as angel bites piercings) have a high likelihood of causing gum erosion, which can eventually weaken your teeth. This is because the hidden end of the barbell sits on the inside rather than the outside of the lip.

To minimize damage, barbells for reverse angel fangs should always have a flat end, rather than a ball, that sits flush against the gums.

Angel Fangs on Thin Lips?

Unfortunately, angel fangs aren't ideal for thin lips. This piercing comes with an increased risk of complications like rejection, migration, and scarring. To minimize complications, it's best to start with a fleshy upper lip that has a defined "ridge" or protrudes slightly.

Between eating, talking, and making facial expressions, your upper lip will move a lot during any given day. Therefore, having adequate flesh is necessary to keep the piercing stabilized as it heals.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Get Angel Fangs?

While anyone can get an angel fang piercing if they are 18 or older, people as young as 16 can receive one if a consenting parent accompanies them.

Angel Fangs Jewelry

1. Type: Curved Barbells With Spikes

Angel fangs piercing with a long spike and a ball angel bites fangs 16G $19.9, SHOP NOW.

Most fans of this piercing will opt for curved barbells that have a spike rather than a round ball on the lower end, which create realistic-looking fangs. Curved barbells are recommended over straight ones because the ends are angled away from the mouth, preventing potential dental issues.

Rings and hoops aren't recommended for daily wear or new piercings. However, they offer an easy way to change up your look after your piercings have completely healed.

2. Gauge: 16G(1.2mm) and 14G(1.6mm)

The appropriate gauge for angel fangs will depend on the size of the needle that was used for the piercing. A gauge size of 16g(1.2mm) is the overwhelming standard, though some piercers may prefer to size up to 14g(1.6mm). This is also the typical size used for many other types of lip piercings.

3. Length: 3/8"(10mm)

Due to the amount of blood vessels in the area, lip piercings will be very swollen during the first few days of healing. To accommodate for this, your first piece of jewelry will be slightly longer.

A curved barbell measuring 10mm, or about 3/8" is typical while the area is swollen. After about 2-4 weeks, people are able to size down to 5/16"(8mm) or 1/4"(6mm).

4. Diameter: 1/4"(6mm) and 3/8"(10mm)

Rings and hoops aren't recommended for daily wear or new piercings. However, if you choose them, they should be small enough to fit snugly but loose enough to move freely without digging into your lip.

A diameter of 1/4"(6mm)-3/8"(10mm) is a good place to start. For best results, return to your piercer after swelling has gone down to be measured for the most accurate fit.

Curved barbell piercing ASTM F136 implant-grade titanium internally threaded $15.9, SHOP NOW.

Recommended Materials for Angel Fangs Jewelry

When choosing your jewelry material, picking the correct type of metal is important. Some metals are more allergy-prone or easier to care for than others. Nickel can cause contact dermatitis in some people, so it's best to stay away from this metal for your initial piercing.

1. Titanium: About $20-$40

16G curved barbell piercing with spikes titanium $18.9, SHOP NOW.

Titanium has a reputation for being the best metal for piercings for many reasons. It is lightweight, hypoallergenic, durable, nickel-free, non-corrosive, and won’t tarnish.

Its non-porous nature reduces places bacteria can hide, promoting healing.

Titanium is also hypoallergenic, meaning it is less likely to cause allergic reactions. Titanium is nickel-free.

Its high density-to-strength ratio means your jewelry is very durable.

A lower density also makes titanium lightweight, a big plus for many users. Finally, the metal comes in many colors because you can anodize it.

The only real downside to titanium jewelry is that you will pay more for all those positive traits. Shop for implant-grade titanium with designations like ASTM F-136, ASTM F-67, or ISO 5832-3.

2. Solid Gold: About $40-$200

This metal will not rust or tarnish. It is also easy to decorate and shape. The added alloys in 18k, and especially 14k, make them more durable than 24k gold pieces.

One downside to gold jewelry is the price tag, which is expensive. Another concern will be that the metal is soft, making it susceptible to bends, breaks, and gouges. Gold can also be heavy, especially with more pure karat ratings.

3. Surgical Steel: About $5-$30

Although it's generally considered hypoallergenic for most people, even surgical-grade steel may contain some nickel. Choose a different option if you are concerned about irritation or a nickel allergy.

Steel combines iron and carbon, improving its strength and ability to resist fracturing.

However, this silver alloy can contain other elements, including nickel. Make sure to buy surgical-grade steel jewelry. These will have ratings: ASTM F-138, ISO 5832-1, ISO 10993-6, ISO 10993-10, or ISO 10993-11.

One of the pros most people cite for steel jewelry pieces is the lower price point. Steel is also a durable option. These pieces are low maintenance because the steel does not corrode, rust, or tarnish.

Weight is the top complaint for those using steel jewelry pieces. Steel can be less comfortable if worn in piercings for long periods.

4. Niobium: About $20-$60

Niobium is a light grey metal known for its hardness that is like titanium. The metal resists corrosion and tarnishing like others on the list, creating minimal maintenance for you.

It might be the best metal for a piercing if you want titanium-like durability with more malleability. That extra pliability makes it easier for jewelers to shape pieces. Niobium can come in various colors as it is something that you can anodize.

The only real downsides are that it weighs a bit more than titanium and you will likely pay a bit more due to the process involved in manufacturing this metal.

Angel Fangs Piercing Pros and Cons

Pros of Angel Fangs Piercing

Unique and rare
Relatively safe for teeth

Cons of Angel Fangs Piercing

Higher chances of migration or rejection
Limited variety of jewelry options
Can affect ability to eat
Can take up to 6 months to heal completely

How to Clean Angel Fangs Piercings?

Make a salt solution by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of salt with one cup of water. Stir the solution until it dissolves. As an alternative, you can buy ready-to-use piercing aftercare sprays.
If you see signs of infection, you can also use antiseptic solutions, such as Betadine, isopropyl alcohol, or diluted hydrogen peroxide.
Soak a cotton ball in the solution and dab it around the piercing site. Don't remove the jewelry!
Take clean gauze or tissue and pat the area dry.

Your piercer should give you detailed instructions on keeping your piercing clean once the piercing has been placed.

Angel Fang Piercing Aftercare

There are a few tips you should follow to help with aftercare for your lip piercing, including:

Opt for soft foods that aren’t overly spicy or acidic.
Chew very carefully to avoid biting your lip jewelry.
Avoid strenuous activities with your mouth until your piercings are fully healed.
Clean the piercings at least twice a day using a sea salt or saline solution.
Soak the outsides of your piercings for 3-5 minutes in the solution.
Gargle with salt water, paying extra attention to the front of your mouth to clean the backs of the jewelry.
Avoid mouthwash with alcohol.
Avoid touching and playing with the jewelry as this can introduce contaminants that contribute to infection.
Avoid wearing makeup until your piercing heals.
Do not use harsh chemicals to clean the piercing such as hydrogen peroxide.
Do not use a swimming pool, sauna, or hot tub while your piercing is healing.
Wait until your piercing heals before changing out your jewelry.
Watch for potential signs of infection and consult your piercer or doctor if it becomes infected.

Once your piercings are fully healed, you’ll be able to resume most of your daily habits. However, you may still find it difficult to eat certain foods or drink certain beverages that irritate the wounds. Be sure to talk with your piercer about concerns you may have.