Love your smile? Why not accentuate it? The smiley piercing is the perfect way to put a hidden pop in your smile. It’s part of a new wave of oral piercings that are getting a resurgence because, you know, tongue piercings are just a bit passe!
The smiley piercing is also known as the scrumper – but we think that’s a bit of a weird name! The easiest way to think about where this piercing is, is to actually grab a mirror and check yourself out while you have a look.
So here’s how: grab you upper lip between your thumb and your forefinger and stretch it upwards towards your nose, while clenching your teeth. Now have a look in the mirror. Do you see the little thin vertical “string” in the middle connecting the top of your gums to your lip bit? That’s the frenulum. And that’s also where the smiley piercing goes.
You put a tiny curved barbell through it, and then people can only see your piercing when you smile – neat, huh?
Let’s check out some pics of the smiley piercing then:
1. Sweet Smiley
In this picture you can only see the balls of the piercing. Depending on how be your hardware is, will determine how much your piercing will show. So if you don’t want your parents to notice, get a small ring and try not to smile too!
2. Gold Smiley
While most people choose to get stainless steel jewelry for their piercings, you might like to switch it up with gold, if you’re more of a gold fan. Remember, some metals can cause allergies, so if your piercing feels weird, then it might be time for a trip to the piercist.
3. Upper and Lower
There’s also the lower lip frenulum piercing – essentially the same as the smiley, just done on your lower lip. You have to snarl (instead of smile) for this one to be seen. Grrrrrr!
4. Matching Nose and Smiley
Smiley’s aren’t a permanent piercing – eventually, they will travel out of the skin, especially because it’s so thin there. If you want your smiley piercing to last as long as possible you should ask your piercer to go as high up the frenulum as possible.
5. Lovin the smiley
Be careful with the jewelry that you use with your smiley piercing. Barbell balls can (and do) rub down the enamel that protects your teeth. You might like to choose jewelry that instead doesn’t touch your teeth, or got for a plastic barbell instead.
6. Devil’s smiley
While these pointed balls may scratch around in your mouth (they’re not recommended except for photo ops!), you won’t feel much pain when getting a smiley. If you have other piercings, they’re likely to be the least painful one that you’ve gotten – yippee!
7. Cupid’s Bow smiley
A smiley can really accentuate your features. This girl’s cupid’s bow is highlighted with her smiley piercing! It can also complement other piercing that you have, especially if you go for a common theme with your jewelry.
8. Diamond Smiley
You can also get a jeweled ring, such as the one above. To take care of your new piercing all you will need to do is rinse your mouth out with mouthwash several times a day, and after you eat or drink, too. You’ll want to ensure any nasties in your mouth get killed and don’t infect your piercing site!
9. Matching smileys
You and your babe ready to commit to each other but not with a tattoo (well at least not yet!)? Then you might like to think about something like these awesome matching smileys. Your friends are bound to be jealous!
10. Copper smiley
It’s better to wait until you have gotten your braces OFF before you go through with a smiley piercing – like this person up here! If you get it done while your braces are still on you can risk it getting caught and tearing your frenulum – ouch!
11. High up smiley
This is a good position to have your smiley in, with the right jewelry. This way, you won’t be wearing down your enamel, which can cause you dental problems later on in life. Live like there’s no tomorrow but pierce like your teeth will last forever!
12. Check out my smiley
The smiley piercing is one of those piercings that is easy to hide and you still live with strict parents. If it’s up high, with small jewelry, they’ll have little chance of seeing. Mom: I just don’t understand this generation!!!
13. The sneer
It’s always better to choose non-allergenic and non-oxidizing metals when getting your piercing put in for the first time. Choose from gold or stainless steel and wait until your piercing heals before trying any other materials!
14. Double monroe + smiley
It usually takes around 6 to 9 weeks for your piercing to heal fully. During that time you should try not to play with it and make sure not to take out the piercing. If you’re having problems or pain then see your piecer.
15. Snake bit + smiley
Because the piercing is inside of your mouth, you’ll have to take it easy when eating and brushing your teeth while it’s healing. It’s best to stay away from foods that are hard, and spicy food can really sting so beware!
16. Rock on!
If your piercing is bleeding for more than a couple of days then it’s time to head back to the piercer. This sort of bleeding isn’t normal and needs to be looked at immediately. Don’t let your piercing become a sore point!
17. Half smile
It’s possible that you will feel some residual pain from the piercing for the first 3 to 4 weeks, but it usually subsides. If you’ve got ongoing pain then it’s probably time to hit up the doctor to check out what is going on in there.
18. Bright star
Piercings are a popular choice for people choosing a first facial piercing. Because you can hide it easily and it’s not a permanent piercing make it the perfect choice for some!
19. Brace yourself for it!
As we’ve mentioned before, we don’t recommend getting the smiley while you’ve still got braces. However, if you’re convinced to to it, it can give a pretty cool look that goes with the metal in your mouth like this chick above!
20. Cheeeeese
Once your piercing is healed you might like to experiment with other materials, such as nickel, copper, or plastic. Be careful with other metals as they may cause an allergic reaction. If you notice the piercing hurting make sure to switch it out for your original metal.
21. Ch-Ching!
If you’re a chick, adding a slick of lipstick in a color that pops, such as red, is a great way to draw attention to your piercing. Let’s be honest, you want other people to notice it right? Colors that are in at the moment are deep purples, mauves, and even black!
22. Ahhhhhh!
Some barbells are more curved than others. Each will give a different effect. A slightly curved barbell can have the effect that you just have the two little balls in your mouth. Eeeek! That didn’t sound too good, did it? Haha!
23. Double entendre
Changing out your jewelry shouldn’t be a nightmare. If your balls are too slippery to grasp with your fingertips, try using a tissue around the ball to grip it instead. This can help the ball loosen more easily, so you are able to change the piercing.
24. Purple passion
If you’re still struggling to change out your piercing, why not head to the spot you had it pierced? Most piercers will happily help you to change out your old jewelry for a new piece, and you might even find something new that you like while there!
25. You and Me
Did you know that not everyone can get a smiley piercing? That’s right, if you have a very small frenulum you may not be able to have it pierced. You might like to try the bottom location instead to see if that works for you better.
26. Matching Septum + Smiley
If you also have a septum piercing you might like to get the same style of curved bar through each. The girl above has an almost identical septum and smiley piercing, which makes for a really cool look.
27. Upwards smile
When you’re changing your jewelry, if you are taking the whole bar out and not just changing the ends, you should follow the new bar through when you are taking out your old bar. This way, you can’t lose the hole – something that can be extremely annoying!
28. Smiley teeth
The standard guages for a smiley piercing is between 16 and 18. The diameter of the ring or the bar should be less than half an each. It’s a place for small jewelry, not large jewelry, otherwise you can cause yourself damage.
29. Double gold
Be wary of purchasing jewelry from sellers other than piercing parlours. Even though a seller on the street or on Ebay may claim their jewelry is Sterling Silver, or some other material, you have no way of knowing for sure.
30. In action
Here’s a snap of the smiley piercing itself in action. You will see that the needle isn’t too big but the top lip needs to remain pulled up while the piercer does their job. Make extra sure that your piercer is using gloves and sterilized needles!
31. Smiley + tongue frenulum
We love, love, love this piercing combo! One frenulum up the top, one frenulum underneath! Many people choose to combine oral piercings because hey, sometimes just the one isn’t enough!
32. Pinkie
It’s not just spicy foods that you need to avoid after having your piercing done. You want to try and get as little germs as possible in all oral piercings. This means no kissing or oral sex while it heals – other people need to keep their bacteria to themselves!
33. My ring
If your piercing starts getting pus after you’ve had it done then it’s time to visit a doctor. This is not normal, and so needs to be treated straight away to ensure that infection doesn’t continue. Don’t delay on this one!
34. The vamp
Smiley piercings are a great alternative to the fang bit piercing for all you vamp lovers out there. The similar double ball approach is a better alternative for those that don’t want to one day end up with holes in the face if they take them out.
35. Smiley + a twist
If you want to get a smiley piercing, then it’s best to go to a reputable piercing clinic in your area, and not just a chain where they sell clothing, do waxing, and other things too. You really want to get a specialist to get the best result.
36. Triple barrel
While it’s more common to see the curved barbell for these types of piercing, often rings can offer you some much more interesting designs. Swap out your regular curved barbell for a bejeweled ring for a special occasion.
37. Lipstick on point
As we’ve mentioned before, lipstick can really draw attention to your piercing, as can a dazzling white smile. You might like to undergo a teeth whitening procedure if you’re getting a smiley, as all eyes will be on your mouth!
38. Just chillin
Make sure that you take good care of your mouth as well as your piercing! That mean proper brushing and flossing, just like the dentist told you, and cleaning your jewelry every now and then. This stops microparticles of food sticking to the surface of your jewelry.
39. Smiley + double tongue
It’s not often that we see a double tongue like this! Or is that a triple tongue?? We can’t be sure! You are as individual as your piercings so switch it up and surprise people, like this chick over here!
40. Smiley tatts
Smiley piercings shouldn’t be expensive, like some other types may be. Shop around at a couple of different piercing parlors to check out which one has the right prices to suit your budget!
41. The couple that pierces together stays together
A smiley is supposed to enhance your smile! Don’t let it ruin it by not taking care of your piercing and using the wrong jewelry. Your smile should last you a lifetime so it’s important that you maintain your piercing as you are supposed to.
42. This!
If you are still in school and have strict no piercing rules, be careful not to pull faces like the above in class! If you think you are at risk of getting in trouble because of your piercing you can put a spacer in during the school week.
43. Mix n Match
Your facial jewelry doesn’t all need to match! How about this chick here who has gold silver and purple and still rocks it?! With a great smile you can get away with pretty much anything!
44. Thinking about more piercings…
If you’d like a complementary piercing for your smiley we recommend the septum, or other nose piercings, other oral piercings, or a lip piercing. If you love your mouth and smile and want it to get noticed, then doubling up can make it stand out even more!
So, to recap:
- Always get your piercing done at a professional piercing parlor
- Follow your piercer’s instructions to a T
- Make sure that the jewelry you get is not too big and brushes against your teeth
- Wash with mouthwash several times a day after your piercing has been done
- You can do the traditional salt water wash combined for better effect
- Take paracetamol if your piercing is hurting
- Use anti allergenic metals to start with
- Make sure to see your piercer or doctor if you think something strange is going on
- Complement your smiley piercing with other piercings in the area
- Switch up your jewelry for special occasions
- Wear a spacer if you really need to hide your piercing
- Don’t trust just any jewelry seller on Ebay or the street to sell you the right metal
And that’s it! If you think that you’re ready to take the plunge and get a smiley piercing then why not ask your friends for their piercer recommendations or look up some places in your area with a good reputation. A good piercer with have a hygenic workplace with sterilized needles and always work with gloves. They should make you feel at ease and not uncomfortable.
Once you’ve got your smiley piercing – and it’s healed – then it’s time to get snapping away like the people above. Flash that smile! We think it’s awesome to have a piercing that’s only seen when you’re feeling the happiest. So have some fun, get some friends round for a few laughs, and then it’s time to hit up Snapchat to share with the world your latest and greatest piercing!
