Labret piercing is a type of lip piercing which uses a Labret. Some people do find it confusing as it can seem like there are lots of Labret lip piercing since this is the piercing jewellery that many lip piercings require but the labret refers to a specific location below the lip. Want to know more about the labret piercing? See our FAQs, below. 

Where is a labret piercing? 

The Labret piercing is placed under the lower lip, in the centre. The piercing enters on the outside of the lip and exits inside the mouth. The labret features a flat back to help prevent the piercing from catching on your teeth and gums. This body piercing is sometimes known as a tongue pillar or soul patch piercing. 

Is a labret piercing painful? 

Labret piercing pain is usually thought to be low on the pain scale. It is no more painful than any other lip piercing and is pierced through soft tissue which generally hurts less than cartilage, for example. After getting your labret piercing, you should not experience any pain but you may find your new piercing swells and is uncomfortable for the first week. Some people find the labret piercing more painful than other types of piercing because everyone’s pain tolerance varies. 

Can you kiss with a labret piercing? 

After getting a labret piercing, it is best not to kiss anyone until your piercing has had a chance to heal. The pressure of a kiss can cause the piercing jewellery to move which may re-open the piercing wound. Your Labret piercing is partly inside the mouth which needs to be kept clean. Having someone else’s bacteria in your mouth because you have kissed them could be harmful to any new lip piercings. Once your piercing has healed, you should find that you can kiss normally, although you may need to take care when kissing not to knock the jewellery against your teeth. 

How long does it take a labret piercing to heal? 

It takes an average of 2-3 months for a labret piercing to heal. Some people say that most labret piercings are fully healed after 6-8 weeks but it can take longer. It can help to wait an extra few weeks to ensure your piercing is fully healed before attempting to change your piercing jewellery. If you experience an infection while healing your Labret piercing or any other problems it may take longer for your lip piercing to fully heal. 

How is a labret piercing done? 

A labret piercing is usually done using a cannula needle. Your piercer will mark the position of your lip piercing for you to check before inserting the needle through the outside of the lip. They may clamp your lip and pull it down to make it easier and safer to pass the needle through. They will then insert the piercing jewellery and your labret piercing is done! 

Do labret piercings ruin your teeth? 

Labret piercings can ruin your teeth if the piercing bar is too long and you do not maintain good oral hygiene. If your labret bar is too long then it may rub against your gums or wear away the enamel of your teeth. If your labret piercing does rub against your gums this can ruin them by causing redness and recession. Make sure to regularly use mouthwash to ensure your piercing jewellery is clean as well as your gums and teeth. Once your piercing is fully healed, you can use a soft bristle toothbrush to gently brush around your piercing. 

How much do labret piercings cost? 

Labret piercings cost an average of £30 - £35. The labret piercing is a single lip piercing so may be cheaper than other types of lip piercing which is perfect if you are worried about cost. The price can be higher if you choose high quality jewellery which is usually worth the extra cost as it can help with healing. It is worth paying the price for an experienced piercer so they can ensure the placement is correct. 

How can I hide my labret piercing? 

If you want to hide a labret piercing you can use retainer jewellery or a nude flat labret bar. Retainer jewellery is usually made of clear acrylic or plastic. This flexible jewellery is useful for a range of purposes including for wearing during sports and medical procedures. It is best to wear metal jewellery during healing and to only use acrylic or plastic jewellery in a healed labret piercing so bear this in mind if you need to cover up your piercing for work or school. 

How do you eat with a labret piercing? 

The labret piercing, like any lip piercings, will affect what you can eat during the healing process because part of the jewellery is placed inside the mouth. Avoid eating spicy foods and sticky foods during healing. Spicy foods can re-open the piercing wound and sticky founds can get stuck around your labret piercing jewellery. If you are eating out, take mouthwash or saltwater solution so you can clean your jewellery afterwards. You should be able to eat normally once the piercing has healed but may want to continue carrying mouthwash or a toothbrush with you to clean your piercing if you eat out. 

The labret piercing refers to the centrally positioned lower lip piercing but there are other types of labret lip piercing. One of the most popular is the vertical labret piercing which features a barbell which goes through to the centre of the lip. Sometimes people call certain lip piercings side labret piercing. Often this refers to a lip piercing that hasn’t yet been completed. For example, some people choose to get Snake Bites one at a time. 

Labret piercing jewellery comes in a vast range of colours, designs, and sizes. Here at Blue Banana, we are well stocked on labret piercing jewellery no matter which piercing you are adding them to. Labret piercings are popular for pairing with other types of lip piercing in order to create symmetry, including the Jestrum and Medusa but are also popular for pairing with septum or smiley piercings.