The smiley piercing (also known as the smiley frenulum piercing) penetrates the tissue flap that joins the inside of your upper lip to your upper gum. A frenulum is a thin line of connective tissue. When the frenulum under your upper lip is pierced, it’s known as a Smiley, Smiley Frenulum Piercing or a Scrumper, which makes sense because it’s only visible when you smile.
You will notice the smiley frenulum piercing place when you lift your upper lip and turn it inside out. You will notice a very thin line of skin connecting your upper lip to your gum line which is the place pierced in case of a smiley. Further, You also have a frenulum between your lower lip and the gum line, as well as one under your tongue. A frenulum piercing can relate to any of these three.
Frenulum piercing does not penetrate much tissue but it can be painful. Hold your frenulum between your thumb and forefinger and pinch it. It’s a sensitive area but it heals without too much difficulty, and it’s cute. However, there are certain limitations to this piercing.
- One, it is not for everyone. Your frenulum cannot be punctured if it is too small.
- Two, because there isn’t much flesh holding it in place, it can be prone to migration and rejection, and natural lip movement can put stress on the piercing.
- Third, it can harm the gums and teeth, which may or may not be recoverable.
How Much Do Smiley Piercings Hurt?
You might believe that because the frenulum is so thin, this piercing would be less painful than others. In reality, piercings through thicker skin are less painful than those through thinner tissue.
When you pierce your frenulum, you will feel a sharp pain, but it will be short. The smiley piercing is said to pain more than other types of lip piercings but less than a cartilage piercing.
Smiley Piercing – Jewelry
Frenulum piercings are fragile, so the jewelry must also be small and delicate. We only suggest using jewelry as little as 18 gauge for this type of piercing. This sensitive area can only withstand an 18 or 16-gauge CBR that is quite small around – usually 1/2 inch. Here are some of the products that you can use.
In the case of jewelry for smiley piercings placement, healing is pretty quick – about four weeks max for a healthy non-smoker.
Also Read:
- Nose Piercing – Everything You Need To Know
- Septum Piercing Facts: Things You Should Know & Aftercare
- Helix Piercing – Facts & Everything You Need to Know
Smiley Piercing Healing Time
The healing time of smiley frenulum piercing can range from 4 to 12 weeks. The mouth heals quickly, but it’s also a breeding ground for bacteria, so good aftercare is essential for speeding up your recovery. The healing time for the smiley piercing isn’t too difficult. The toughest tasks will be keeping your tongue clean and avoiding jewelry snags.
Here are some coping strategies to assist you in getting through the healing process.
2 – 3 times a day, rinse your mouth with saline solution or a sea salt rinse. Because of the placement of the smiley piercing, you cannot perform a saline soak like you would with other piercings. Instead, rinse your mouth with a saline or sea salt rinse, paying special attention to the frenulum area.
There are rinses available that are designed specifically for oral piercing aftercare. You must also maintain adequate dental hygiene during the healing process.
Be careful when eating. When it comes to eating, the location of the smiley frenulum piercing may present a learning curve. You don’t want to snag or aggravate your piercing, yet preventing snags may be difficult because initial jewelry must be large enough to tolerate swelling. Stick to mild foods for the first several days to get adjusted to your new jewelry.
How Much Will It Cost?
Smiley piercings range in price from $30 to $100. You should ensure that your piercer utilizes completely sterilized tools. This is always an important factor, but in oral piercings, where bacteria are already a major risk, you want to make sure you’re doing everything correctly.
Risks and Complications of Smiley Piercing
The main health risks and complications of a smiley piercing are:
Gum Damage: Injury caused by piercing jewelry to your sensitive gums.
Infection: Your mouth bacteria may infect the piercing site and stop it from healing.
Rejection: Your body may reject the piercing which can cause irritation in the pierced area.
Blood-borne Illnesses: The piercing can transfer certain infections like hepatitis (liver infection) and endocarditis (heart infection).
Blood Loss: With sharp edges, the piercing jewelry may damage or puncture a blood vessel in the mouth and can cause bleeding.
To eliminate the risks and complications always prefer a professional piercer and follow piercing aftercare protocol. If you feel something’s wrong, don’t hesitate to look for medical assistance.
SOURCES:
American Dental Association: “Oral Piercing/Jewelry,” “Oral Piercings”.
Association of Professional Piercers: “Jewelry for initial piercings”, “Oral Piercing Risks & Safety Measures”.
International Journal of Medical Sciences: “Oral piercing and oral diseases: a short time retrospective study”.
