When American figure skater Alysa Liu stepped onto the ice at the Winter Olympics in Milan, all eyes were on her performance, but it didn’t take long for social media to zero in on something else entirely. The 20-year-old athlete had a small silver piece of jewelry glinting above her teeth, and once viewers caught a glimpse of it, the curiosity exploded online. The accessory in question is known as a “smiley” piercing, placed in the thin strip of tissue that connects the upper lip to the gums and only visible when someone flashes a wide smile. What followed was a viral wave of people rushing to replicate her look, and dental professionals quickly took notice.
Liu’s triumph at the Games was historic by any measure. She claimed gold in the individual competition on February 19, having already won gold as part of the team event earlier in the same Games. Her victory made her the first American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in figure skating in 24 years and the first U.S. medalist in that discipline since 2006. She earned 150.20 points in the free skate program, bringing her total to 226.79. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto took silver and Ami Nakai claimed bronze, while American teammate Amber Glenn finished fifth. Russia’s Adeliia Petrosian placed sixth after a fall on the ice. The win also marked a remarkable comeback for Liu, who had stepped away from the sport at just 16 years old following the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Amid all the coverage of her medal, clips began circulating across social platforms showing the glint of her smiley piercing, and public fascination quickly grew. Fuel was added to the fire when an old NBC interview from January resurfaced in which Liu casually revealed the backstory behind the jewelry. “I did it a little over two years ago. My sister held my lip, and I just took a needle and pushed it through,” she explained. The DIY nature of her admission clearly resonated with fans, but it also set off alarm bells among dental health professionals who warn that this kind of procedure should never be done at home.
The American Dental Association (ADA) has been vocal about the health risks associated with oral piercings of all kinds. The organization’s consumer-facing platform MouthHealthy, which operates in partnership with the ADA, put it plainly in its guidelines: “There are millions of bacteria in the mouth, which is why infections and swelling are common. Swelling of the tongue or lips can be severe enough to make breathing difficult, and there is also a risk of choking if a piece of jewelry breaks off.” The mouth’s naturally high bacterial environment makes it a particularly risky site for any kind of puncture wound, especially one performed without sterile equipment or professional oversight.
Beyond infection, dentists point to a range of additional complications that oral piercing can cause over time. The constant friction of metal against soft tissue can lead to lasting gum damage and recession. Biting down on the jewelry accidentally can chip or crack teeth, and there is a real possibility of the jewelry becoming embedded in the tissue, which may then require surgical removal. Bleeding, scarring, and persistent wound discharge are also documented complications. Dental professionals conclude with a straightforward recommendation: “It’s best to think about removing the jewelry before a problem occurs. Oral piercing requires constant care and maintenance. Consult your dentist for advice.”
Smiley piercings have existed in body modification culture for decades but have generally remained a niche choice. The piercing passes through the frenulum labii superioris, the small fold of mucous membrane that connects the center of the upper lip to the gum. Because of its placement, it is almost entirely hidden during everyday expression and only reveals itself during a full, wide-open smile, which is precisely the kind of visual that makes it appealing and photogenic. Like all oral piercings, it requires regular cleaning with alcohol-free mouthwash and careful monitoring for signs of rejection or migration, where the body gradually pushes the jewelry toward the surface of the tissue. Professional piercers typically use implant-grade titanium or surgical steel for initial jewelry to reduce the risk of allergic reaction. The healing period generally lasts between four and twelve weeks under ideal conditions, though the frenulum is considered a relatively delicate site. Organizations like the Association of Professional Piercers recommend that anyone seeking an oral piercing visit a licensed and experienced professional rather than attempting it at home, as improper technique significantly increases the risk of nerve damage, excessive bleeding, and long-term complications.
Have you or someone you know ever tried to replicate a celebrity’s look with a piercing or body modification, and what do you think about the trend Alysa Liu accidentally sparked? Share your thoughts in the comments.
