smiley piercing have spread in our modern societies, becoming real fashion accessories with studied aesthetics on the face, the body, but also in the mouth. However, these body modifications are not to be taken lightly and must be carried out with great care by a professional piercer.

Originally used by pre-Columbian civilizations as a ritual element, tongue piercings were brought back into fashion in the seventies. They are among the most commonly performed in piercing parlors today.
However, the popular enthusiasm around this practice should not overshadow the risks. Oral piercings must be performed under conditions of hygiene and impeccable technical mastery, at the risk of exposing the oral environment to fairly serious complications.
Tongue piercing, a classic
Indispensable in the world of piercing, piercing with language is relatively risk-free
for teething. As long as the size of the jewel and the materials that compose it are adapted to the oral environment of the pierced person.
On the other hand, it cannot be carried out in people whose tongue is not long enough, at the risk that this jewel interferes with good speech and comes up against the gums. This last point promotes the loosening of the teeth .
During the operation, the client’s tongue, held still by a tongue puller, is carefully pierced by the action of a piercing rod. Then a thin plastic bar is slipped into it to prevent the newly formed hole from closing. It is a painless process in view of the many nerves that cross this organ and the scarring is generally more felt than the operation itself.
In the event of prolonged acute pain and/or the presence of pus, it is necessary to go quickly to a specialist : dental surgeon, stomatologist or even to the emergency room in cases of immediate danger.
Smiley and labret piercings: watch out for shrinking gums
Very fashionable among some young people who acclaim its original and discreet side.The smiley piercing is positioned on the muscle of the upper lip.This implantation on the labial brake makes it possible to display the jewel only in the event of a big and wide smile, but is not without risk:
- Sometimes smiley piercing are too heavy for the labial muscle, which will reject this foreign body. In other words, the piercing will not be accepted by the tissues, will not anchor well in the flesh and end up becoming infected. A rejected piercing must imperatively be removed . Also, this decision is generally taken by the piercer during the post-implantation control visit.
- If they are poorly implanted, smiley piercing mobilize and retract the gums and lead to the loosening of the surrounding teeth.
- This last constraint is also true for certain piercings that are nevertheless located outside the mouth (but anchored there by a rod crossing the cheek). At the top, the labret piercings, on the lower part of the lower lip. Frequently, the bar that holds them is too big and scratches the gum tissue or scratches the enamel . Again, this state of affairs constitutes a reason for immediate removal of the piercing, which must be accompanied by a visit to the dentist .
Tips for Healing Mouth Piercings
The healing of a mouth piercing is very slow and varies greatly depend on where it is implanted. If it takes 45 days healing time for a tongue piercing, double the time is to be expected for smiley piercing. During this period, it is important that the pierced person follow the hygiene recommendations given by the piercer to the letter.
- Abstain from smoking for as long as possible after the operation (at least a dozen hours).
- Avoid acidic drinks, such as alcohol, coffee or fruit juice for the first few days.
- Rinse your mouth several times a day with the antiseptic recommended by the piercer or a pharmacist.
- Continue to brush your teeth twice a day, even during the healing time.
- If you have a partner, no languorous hugs or mouth games for the first two weeks.
When you need to change the post-operative jewel for a more aesthetic model, prefer a titanium bar , on which a Teflon ball will be mounted. This material will absorb shock between the piercing and the teeth. And will prevent them from cracking if the piercing comes apart in the mouth and you bite into it, as would be the case with a steel head piercing.