[xvaier]

From my experience, when there is no more snap it tends to be an accumulation of dust and grime in the port preventing the cable from fully seating. I usually clear it out carefully with a sim card ejection tool.

[plasticchris]

I use a sharpened wooden toothpick to prevent any possibility of shorting the pins

[RKearney]

Look closely at a lightning cable. The edge is metal. When you plug in a lightning cable, you briefly short every single pin together. There's probably a greater risk of bending a pin inside the port than there is shorting pins out.

[somehnguy]

Probably a good precaution to take - but I've always recklessly used a paperclip. Been doing it since the first Lightning connector devices came out and have never had any negative effects from doing so. Seems pretty robust.

[jmkb]

I've had good luck with poster-tack goo... just have to make sure not to leave any behind.

[mikepurvis]

Yup, have done this many times; my phone is definitely due for it.