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What Happens When You Pierce Your Gums?

One of the first things to know about smiley piercings is that you aren't technically piercing your gums. The piercing actually goes through the frenulum (the small flap of tissue that connects the gums to the lips). As you may know, one of the most common locations for a gum piercing is on the upper part of the mouth, right above the two front teeth. You can also have a piercing on the bottom part of the mouth where the tissue connects the lower lip to the gums. This is sometimes called a "frowny piercing."

What Are the Risks of Gum Piercings?

You may be wondering, do smiley piercings ruin your teeth? The truth is that all body piercings come with risks. As the American Dental Association (ADA) points out, oral piercings can be particularly risky since millions of bacteria live in the mouth. There's a greater risk of infection when you pierce the inside of your mouth versus getting your ears pierced because of the bacteria.

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What Type of Jewelry Is Used for in-Mouth Piercing?

Curved barbell: This is the most common type of jewelry for a new tongue or lingual frenulum piercings; it's a curved bar with balls on either side, one of which is removable for easy application. According to Thompson, this style of jewelry remains relatively stationary, making it a great pick for a new in-mouth piercing. "The more the piercing is rotated, the longer it's going to take for it to heal."

What Jewelry Material Is Used for in-Mouth Piercing?

Titanium: Thompson prefers "hypoallergenic metals" without nickel, like titanium and gold. "Nickel is not going to kill you. It's not going to poison you, but it can cause a slower heal."