Smiley Piercing: Everything You Should Know To Make Your Smile Special

Do you want to get your mouth pierced? If you enjoy piercings, you do! This year, a smiley piercing took the honorable first place among the trendiest oral piercings! This is why we've done the legwork for you and found out everything you need to know about this amazing type of piercings.

What Is A Smiley Piercing?

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So, essentially, what is a smiley piercing? Often referred to as the frenulum piercing, the smiley piercing is a piercing type that suggests puncturing the flap of tissue that joins the inside of your upper lip to your upper gum. The name comes from the fact that this piercing gets visible when you grin. It has become a popular choice for those who desire a piercing that they can hide because it's usually hidden unless purposely revealed.

In case you have problems finding it, put your tongue straight up in front of your teeth while keeping your lips closed. Between your lips and your gums, there should be a delicate line of skin. That's the frenulum you're looking for. Like other mouth piercings (lip and tongue piercings), smiley piercings are particularly delicate and difficult to maintain. So, make sure you're prepared to commit.

Smiley Piercing Pros and Cons

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No matter how attractive a smiley piercing can be, it comes with a set of advantages and downsides that you should be aware of before committing to it.

Pros:

• Universal appeal. Smiley face piercing is said to be the safest and the most straightforward route into the world of piercings. If you don’t know where to start – start with a smiley.
• Lovely vibe. No matter what some people may claim but a cute smiley piercing is something that attracts adoring glances and enhances your smile. Besides, it will drive you to smile more often and show your new piercing off, which is another benefit on the list.
• Secretive side. A plethora of piercings is located out in the open for everyone to see them. While that is something that some people seek – attention, others may feel uneasy under the weighing stares of strangers. If you belong to the latter category, a smiley piercing is what you need. It is not as mundane as a tongue piercing but as simple to hide.
• Ease of incision. It is common knowledge that some piercings are more challenging to get than others. Well, the smiley lip piercing belongs to the category of easy-to-get ones, and the procedure is incredibly simple.
• Time-saving procedure. The simplicity of the incision ensures that it takes as many as a few minutes to get it done. You won’t have time to get cold feet about it.

Cons:

• Healing process. While the mouth area is known to heal faster than other parts of your body, you should keep in mind that the number of bacteria that resides in your mouth is incredible. So, the better you care for your new piercing, the sooner it will heal and vice versa.
• Gum and enamel damage. Your smiley piercing will be in direct contact with your teeth and gums. Thus, the risk of enamel and gum damage increases. So, you should be careful enough to spot the first sign of infection or rejection.

Smiley Piercing Pain Chart

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Does a smiley piercing hurt? That is one of the most common facts that you would be eager to learn before scheduling a visit to the salon. Surely, it does since it is still an incision into the flesh of your mouth. Yet, the smiley piercing pain is often described as mild. It is 4 on a 10-point scale. While that seems tolerable, you should also recall your personal reactions to pain. Some people are incredibly sensitive to pain, and the procedure may even feel excruciating.

Other people believe that because the frenulum is tiny and extra soft, this form of piercing is less painful than others. In fact, piercings done through thicker skin are, on average, less uncomfortable than piercings done in the mucous membrane. So, when you pierce your frenulum, get ready to feel a searing pain, which will pass quickly. Also, smiley piercing pain may vary depending on the type of piercing jewelry that you choose. Piercing specialists from Los Angeles agree that piercings performed first are the least painful, while piercings performed last can be deeply painful.

Keep in mind that your lip will swell after the procedure, and that will add up to the general discomfort to deal with. What is more, an infected smiley piercing will surely hurt much more than the piercing process itself.

Smiley Piercing Infection

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As has already been mentioned above, bacteria thrive in your mouth as a result of what you eat and drink. Bacteria can also be passed from person to person by smoking, kissing or other oral activities. They can get into the piercing site and cause infection. The symptoms of an infected smiley piercing may include swelling, pain and sometimes burning or itching. The first step in avoiding infection is to have your frenulum pierced by a professional rather than doing it yourself. Therefore, be sure to check if your piercer is using properly sanitized instruments. This is always a consideration, but when it comes to oral piercings, where bacteria are already a major concern, you need to make sure your smiley piercing is properly set up.

However, if you happened to catch some minor smiley piercing infection, here is what you can do:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before you clean, handle or touch your piercing.
• Rinse your mouth twice a day with sea salt or a saline solution.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day.

It is preferable to consult a doctor for treatment if the infection does not go away within a couple of days.

The Jewelry That Pops Out When You Smile

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The jewelry that is generally used for smiley piercing is 18 gauge (1mm) to 16 gauge (1.2mm) in thickness. Small diameter circular barbells, as well as short length curved barbells, are all great small smiley piercing options available in every piercing studio. However, in this section, we want to focus on more specific festive smiley piercing jewelry:

1. Vampire smiley piercing is a curved barbell with fangs at the ends, 18mm in size. It's important to choose the right piercing position before you opt for vampire smiley piercing because when you don't laugh, it’s best to reveal a few teeth, and when you do laugh, the best effect is to show all of your teeth, so try to make the piercing position a bit higher.

2. Smiley piercing fangs are usually done on both sides for a symmetrical and true wolfman-like impression, but they can also be done on one side only, just like any other piercing. Fang smiley piercing is also called Dracula Nail because it is pierced in the position between the top of the lip and the top of the gum. It is also worth noting that long-term wear is not recommended for any smiley fang piercing.

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3.  Smiley piercing rings typically include:

• Round-shaped barbell. You might also make your initial jewelry out of a round-shaped barbell. This item is made in the form of a horseshoe and has a bead on each end that keeps it properly fixed.
• Ring with a captive bead, which is used for a brand-new smiling piercing. This piece has a circular form and is finished with a single tiny bead.
• Ring with no seams. It can be with or without adornment. This ring joins without a bead that keeps it in place. You can replace this conventional seamless ring with a seamless ring with extra adornments once the piercing has healed completely.

4. Septum smiley piercing is a combination of a standard septum piercing that goes through the septum of your nose, often known as the space between your nostrils, and a smiley (frenulum) piercing. This combination is not only fashionable right now, but it also looks amazing on your face. You practically align two piercings, which produces a sort of focal point and symmetry in some way. Here's a life hack for you: select jewelry pieces that match rather than stand out.

Fake smiley piercing. Nose and nose rings and BCR septum lip piercing are examples of a fake smiley piercing. Just like real piercing jewelry, they can be made of stainless steel, silicone, acrylic or titanium. Classic, punk and sexy are all popular styles of fake smiling piercing.

Smart Metals For Smart Smiley

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Low-carbon surgical stainless steel is appropriate for body and smiley piercings because, despite containing alloys, they are held in the metal and not liberated through a particular process. Despite the fact that surgical steel is generally hypoallergenic, inflammation might nonetheless occur. Also, note that the only piercing-friendly types of surgical steel are 316L and 316LVM.

• Surgical titanium is a more preferable option than surgical steel for those who have hypersensitivity difficulties. Because titanium is an elemental metal that does not contain nickel, it is a popular choice for initial piercings. Titanium is a metal that is as strong and durable as steel, yet lighter than aluminum.
• Niobium is a great material for mouth jewelry. Unalloyed niobium, like titanium, is very biocompatible. It is included as a metal in the Association of Professional Piercers' Initial Jewelry Standards (APP).
• Gold. Pure gold jewelry may appear to be a safe piercing option, but this isn't always the case. The delicate texture of 24-karat gold, for example, increases the possibility of germ-trapping nicks, while solid 14K and 18K gold jewelry is a great choice for initial piercings.

How Much Is A Smiley Piercing?

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Another important question to consider is how much is a smiley piercing. The average cost of a smiley piercing varies between $30 and $100. Some studios have a separate price for jewelry. Also, consider a tip for your piercer, which should be at least 20%, and inquire with your piercer about any charges associated with aftercare, like a saline solution, etc.

How Long Does It Take For A Smiley Piercing To Heal?

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Despite how small smiley piercing looks, it takes a fair share of time for it to heal properly. Your personal body healing process will have the final word on the matter. However, the experts point out that it usually takes around 4 to 12 weeks for the piercing to heal well. It is unadvised to change the smiley piercing rings during the healing process.

On top of that, professional pierces can’t stop emphasizing that proper aftercare is critical when it comes to the healing time of any piercing, and tour smiley wouldn’t be an exception. Clean your piercing daily according to the instructions that the piercing expert has given you, and you will enjoy your new body modification to the fullest.

Smiley Aftercare

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Proper aftercare is crucial during the smiley piercing healing process. It is imperative that you clean your piercing on a regular basis to avoid infections and injury. Follow the instructions listed below to ensure that your piercing heals quickly:

1. Rinsing your mouth with a saline mouthwash is particularly good for keeping infections at bay. Do this twice a day: in the morning and at night.
2. Brushing your teeth is always vital if you have a mouth piercing. You should, however, proceed with caution and avoid brushing your piercing.
3. Avoid spicy meals, which cause irritation and inflammation when your smiling piercing is still healing.
4. Playing with your jewelry until your smiley piercing has not yet completely healed is not a good idea.
5. Brush the area near the piercing jewelry to prevent plaque buildup.
6. Refrain from smoking and consuming alcoholic beverages, since these can slow down the healing process.
7. Avoid passionate kisses.

How Long Will Smiley Piercing Last?

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Now, when you are through with all the smiley piercing pros and cons, you may want to learn how long it will last. Most mouth piercings differ in that regard, but you should realize that your personal body peculiarities have a say on the matter too. If you decide to take the piercing out, a smiley will heal completely within weeks as opposed to a lip piercing, for instance.

However, smiley piercings are often named the least-lasting options there are. On average, such a piercing can hold in for about a year, and your body may reject it. Despite typical smiley piercing rejection cases, there are instances when such piercings last years and decades.

FAQ: Smiley Piercing