September 21, 2024

Canine Bites Piercing: Pain, Cost, Healing, Jewelry, Sizes, Aftercare, Pros and Cons

Fast Facts:

Placement: They involve four different piercings located where your canine teeth are.
Cost: $30-$60.
Pain: A medium pain level.
Healing time: 8-12 weeks.
Jewelry: Studs, rings, barbells.
Risks: Infections, tooth, gum, and nerve damage.

Lip piercings are a unique way to express yourself and add accents to your face. One type of lip piercing to consider is canine bites piercing. They actually involve four lip piercings, creating an edgy and adventurous look.

What Are Canine Bites Piercings?

Canine Bites piercings, also known as Canine Bite piercings, involve four different piercings located where your canine teeth are. In other words, they are symmetrically placed above and below your lips on both the left and the right sides, near the corners of your lips.

This is essentially a combination of Snake Bites percings and Angel Bites piercings. Symmetry is crucial to ensure the Canine Bites look clean and professionally done.

Canine bites piercing

Canine Bites Piercing Cost

Not including jewelry, these piercings usually cost between $30 and $60. When you add jewelry, the cost often ranges from $60 to $120.

Canine Bites piercings will vary in cost based on your piercer and the type of jewelry you select. Keep in mind: The higher quality jewelry you choose, the more expensive the total cost will be.

Canine Bites Piercing Procedure

If you’re thinking about getting a Canine Bites piercing, learn more about what the process entails:

Your piercer will clean the piercing area with antiseptic to get rid of any harmful germs and bacteria.
They’ll then mark where the piercings will go using a skin-safe marker or pen.
The piercer will hold the surgical clamp in place to secure the skin.
They’ll perforate your lip using a hollow needle.
The jewelry will be inserted and secured.
The process will be repeated to complete the other perforations.

Sometimes piercers will recommend you do canine bites in two sessions, doing two perforations at a time to aid with pain and healing.

canine bites piercing

Image: Neko Meike.

Canine Bites Piercing Pain

Canine Bites piercings are typically just as painful as any other lip piercing. They often fall in the middle of the pain scale. However, pain level will vary based on how experienced your piercer is and on your pain tolerance.

Experienced piercers will be able to perforate your skin quickly and accurately. If they were to go too slow, it could be more painful as they push through the skin.

Your body can also go into shock if you get too many piercings at the same time. If this happens to you, you could experience more pain and discomfort. Consider getting the piercings done in various sessions to help prevent this from happening.

Canine Bites Piercing Healing

Canine Bites piercings typically take 8-12 weeks to heal. At first, you’ll experience swelling, soreness, and some redness. This should subside after a couple of weeks.

While you may experience some bleeding immediately after getting pierced, this should not persist. You also should not experience any discharge.

Using a cold compress can help with pain and discomfort after getting your piercing. Follow the directions from your piercer, as proper aftercare will help prevent any complications during the healing process.

Canine Bites Piercing Jewelry

When getting a Canine Bites piercing, it’s important to choose the right jewelry. Proper jewelry will help with comfort and safety as the piercings heal.

You can mix and match different types of jewelry. For example, you could use labret studs on the top left and right but opt for circular barbells on the bottom. Just ensure your piercings have fully healed before changing the jewelry.

1. Types of Jewelry

Canine Bites piercings can use the following jewelry options:

Flat Back Labret Studs

Flat back labret stud with a ball titanium $18.9, SHOP NOW.

The most common type of Canine Bites piercing jewelry is a flat-back stud. This is a type of studs that features a flat disk on one side. The jewelry goes in through the inside of your lip until the disk is flush against the back of your lip. Then, a piece is screwed onto the front. This piece is usually a metal ball, spike, diamond, or other accent.

Hoops (Hinged Segment Cilckers or Seamless Hoops)

Piercing hoop 6mm 8mm 10 mm simple and minimalist $15.9, SHOP NOW.

This type of jewelry will go completely around your bottom lip. You can explore different metal colors, different gauges, and hoops with accents. Consider a seamless hoop that is a clean, simple loop.

Captive Bead Rings

Ashley Piercing Jewelry piercing ring captive bead $15.9, SHOP NOW.

With no specific historical origin, this jewelry design offers a timeless appeal. It features a continuous ring made of materials like implant-grade titanium or K gold, with a small opening where a removable bead is held captive between the ends of the ring.

The CBR gets carefully inserted by opening the ring slightly, sliding it through the piercing, and then closing it securely with the bead in place.

Circular Barbells (Horseshoe Barbells)

Titanium ring horseshoe barbell $17.9, SHOP NOW.

A circular barbell is an open circle, like a horseshoe. There are usually balls, spikes, or other accents on either end, with a screw-on closure to keep the jewelry in place.

2. Recommended Jewelry Materials

Choose high-quality jewelry made with materials you know you’re not allergic to. Popular options for Canine Bite piercings include:

Implant-grade titanium: Implant-grade titanium is a great option because it’s lightweight, nickel-free, and won’t tarnish. This may help you avoid an allergic reaction and the need to frequently change out the jewelry. This metal is also used in the medical field for things like joint replacements and bone pins.
14K gold: Gold offers an elegant look and is a durable material, though yellow gold is often more hypoallergenic, and white gold can be more durable because it has nickel and other metal alloys.
Surgical stainless steel: A hard, affordable metal that won’t tarnish and is extremely durable but may cause allergic reactions in some people with trace amounts of nickel.

Some of the safest options include implant-grade titanium and surgical-grade stainless steel. Bioflex plastic may also be a good option if you want something flexible and non-metal. Plus, they come in many different colors.

Other types of materials could lead to allergic reactions or irritations to the sensitive skin of your face. For example, gold-plated steel could be problematic for some people with sensitive skin.

3. Jewelry Sizing

The most common gauges for Canine Bites piercings are 14 gauge (1.6 mm), 16 gauge (1.2 mm), and 18 gauge (1.0 mm). The post lengths of studs are usually between 6 mm (1/4") and 12 mm (1/2"), though it will vary based on the thickness of your lip.

If you prefer hoops or circular barbells, the diameters will usually vary between 8 mm (5/16") and 10 mm (3/8"), which will also depend on the size of your lips.

Canine Bites Piercing Risks

There are some risks associated with getting Canine Bites piercings. As with any time you perforate your skin, you are at risk of infection.

Since these are located in your mouth, you also face some oral risks. Saliva will introduce bacteria to the piercings, especially if you have bad oral hygiene.

You may also experience gum recession and enamel wear as the jewelry rubs against your teeth.

Pros and Cons of Canine Bites Piercings

There are both pros and cons to Canine Bites piercings.

Some pros may include:

A way to get 4 different piercings through one look
Several different jewelry options
An edgy, unique look
A way to complement other facial piercings

Some cons may include:

Difficult to hide or cover up if you don’t want them to be seen
Potential for oral problems including tooth damage
Pain from getting four perforations in your lips
Trouble speaking, eating, and drinking, especially with certain foods and beverages
Risk of having to take the jewelry out and allow the piercings to reclose

For many piercing enthusiasts, the pros outweigh the cons, and the right aftercare can help prevent some of the potential disadvantages.

Canine Bites Piercing Aftercare

There are a few tips you should follow to help with aftercare for your Canine Bites piercings, including:

Don’t use your tongue to play with the jewelry.
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.
Avoid mouthwash with alcohol.
Take care to avoid contaminating the piercing.
Avoid touching it or applying makeup very close to it.
Avoid getting in the water that might be dirty.
Clean your piercing twice per day using a saline solution made for wound cleaning or soap and water to prevent infection.
Avoid ointments as they prevent necessary air circulation.
And of course, make sure to avoid snagging on clothes or towels.
Wear loose clothing. Avoid wearing tight clothing or clothing that may rub against the piercing, as this can cause irritation and slow down the healing process.
Use hypoallergenic jewelry like implant-grade titanium and 14- or 18-karat gold. Surgical-grade steel may contain small amounts of nickel that could cause allergic reactions.
Don't move the piercing unless you're cleaning it. Pulling on a piercing early in healing is painful, but it also can get in the way of healing or damage the piercing itself.
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.

Cleaning

It is recommended to use sterile saline that you buy from the store, rather than homemade saline, for cleaning your piercings. Homemade saline may be too salty for delicate piercing sites, leading to dryness and delayed healing.

Using mild, fragrance-free soap and water to clean your piercing site is also an option.

If you prefer homemade salt solution. You can start by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt with one cup of distilled or boiled (for at least 20 minutes) water. You may choose to use less of the salt mixture like 1/4 to 1/8 teaspoon if you want a weaker solution that’s less likely to burn or sting. Stir the solution until it dissolves.

If you see signs of infection, you can also use antiseptic solutions, such as betadine, isopropyl alcohol, or diluted hydrogen peroxide. However, avoid using them for daily cleaning as they can damage cells.

Then proceed with the following steps to clean your piercing:

Soak a cotton ball, a paper towel or non-plush cloth with the solution. Avoid fabrics that could snag and pull the jewelry or leave fibers behind. Gently saturate the piercing and cleanse it. Don't remove the jewelry!
If you have a sterile saline wound wash that you buy from stores, then spay it while healing.
Ensure you cleanse the piercing of any discharge or crusty material.
Take clean gauze or cotton swabs and pat the area dry.
Never scrub, poke, prod, or scrape at the piercing.
Avoid eating, drinking, or applying makeup around the piercing directly after cleaning.
Be sure to repeat this process at least 2-3 times a day or as advised by your piercer.

Your piercer should give you detailed instructions on how to keep your piercing clean once it has been placed.

Conclusion: Should You Get a Canine Bites Piercing?

Be sure to think through all of the pros and cons of Canine Bites piercings before moving forward with the piercings. If you like piercings and are intrigued by the idea of facial piercings, particularly on your lips, this could be a fantastic option for you.

Do your research and choose a piercer that is reputable with experience doing lip piercings. This will help ensure the process is done as smoothly as possible for you. And, consider what jewelry you’d like to wear. While your choices may be limited at first, once your piercing is fully healed you can explore a plethora of jewelry options.