The Internet Is Obsessed With Alysa Liu’s Teeth — But the ADA Urges Caution
Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu has inadvertently turned a little-known oral piercing into one of the most searched body modification trends of 2025.
But the American Dental Association (ADA) isn’t impressed and is urging fans to understand the health risks before trying it themselves.
The Piercing That Went Viral
Liu’s most-discussed accessory from the 2026 Winter Games wasn’t a medal — it was a tiny piece of jewelry most people had never heard of. A “smiley piercing” visible only when she flashed her now-famous grin on the ice.
The piercing has sent a wave of curiosity across social media, with fans asking the same question: What is that on Alysa Liu’s teeth?
A smiley piercing, also known as a lip frenulum piercing, is an oral piercing where jewelry is inserted into the lip frenulum, according to WebMD. The frenulum is the thin flap of skin that connects the lip to the gum.
The piercing gets its name from the fact that it can only be seen when a person smiles.
Alysa Liu’s Olympic Rise Peaks Interest
Liu was already one of the most-talked about athletes of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
She helped Team USA win a gold medal in the team figure skating event on Feb. 8, then catapulted to global stardom on Feb. 19 with a gold medal in the women’s free skate.
That individual gold carries real weight. She was the first American woman to earn an individual figure skating gold medal at the Olympics in 24 years. The last to do so was Sarah Hughes in 2002.
The Milan Cortina performance came nearly one year after she earned a gold medal at the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston. She’s the first American woman to win a gold title since 2006.
Her performances drove a staggering surge in her social media following. Liu gained more than five million followers on Instagram in just two weeks, going from 210,000 followers before the Olympics to 5.2 million, as of Feb. 24.
That kind of rapid audience growth means millions of new eyes on everything about her — including that flash of metal behind her upper lip.
Liu Pierced It Herself Two Years Ago
Liu opened up about the piercing in an interview with TMJ4 News, shared on YouTube Jan. 26.
“Oh, my ‘smiley,’” she said to the camera. “I pierced it a little over two years ago now.”
“I did it myself,” she added. “I had my sister hold up my lip, and I was looking in the mirror and I had my piercing needle and then — yeah, I just put it through,” she said.
That casual, DIY origin story is part of what’s fueling the trend’s appeal. The piercing is subtle, hidden until you smile, and carries a certain insider quality — you either know what it is or you don’t.
With Liu’s new global visibility, the number of people who recognize it is growing fast.
The ADA’s Warning Is Specific — and Serious
The American Dental Association wants fans to think twice before using the piercing as a fashion statement.
“Oral piercings or tongue splitting may look cool, but they can be dangerous to your health,” the ADA writes on its MouthHealthy website.
“That’s because your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection and swelling often occur with mouth piercings,” the ADA continues.
The specific risks the ADA flags go beyond infection.
According to the ADA, an oral piercing also increases the risk of damaged teeth, gums or fillings, hypersensitivity to metals, nerve damage, excessive drooling and dental appointment difficulties.
The gap between “looks cool on Instagram” and “could chip your teeth” is real.
What to Know If You Already Have One
For those who already have a smiley piercing, the ADA recommends keeping the site clean and free of any matter that may collect on the jewelry by using a mouth rinse after every meal.
The ADA also advises avoiding clicking the jewelry against teeth and avoiding stress on the piercing.
It suggests checking the tightness of your jewelry periodically with clean hands to prevent swallowing or choking if it becomes loose. Removing the jewelry when taking part in sports is also recommended, along with brushing twice per day and not skipping routine dental visits.
That point about sports stands out in the context of Liu’s story.
She’s an elite athlete performing high-impact routines with this piercing in her mouth — a reminder that what works for one person under specific circumstances doesn’t automatically translate to everyone.
“Of course the best option is to consider removing mouth jewelry before it causes a problem. Don’t pierce on a whim. The piercing will be an added responsibility to your life, requiring constant attention and upkeep,” the ADA added.
What to Consider Before Committing
Talk to your dentist before a piercer.
The ADA’s warnings about infection, tooth damage and nerve damage are specific to the oral environment, and a dentist can assess whether your particular frenulum and gum health make this a higher-risk choice.
Liu’s story about piercing herself with a needle and a mirror may sound casual, but self-piercing in the mouth carries additional infection risk given the bacteria the ADA describes.
A professional piercer working in sterile conditions is a different equation.
The ADA’s care recommendations — rinsing after every meal, checking jewelry tightness, removing it for sports — add up to a daily commitment. This isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it accessory.
Smiley piercings involve a thin piece of tissue, and the piercing can close relatively quickly once jewelry is removed. The commitment level is lower than a tattoo, but the ongoing care demands are higher than most external piercings.
The trend itself isn’t new — smiley piercings have existed for years. What’s new is the scale of exposure Liu has given it. With 5.2 million Instagram followers watching her smile on the Olympic podium, the piercing went from niche to mainstream awareness almost overnight.
BOTTOM LINE: Whether Liu’s viral moment translates into a lasting trend or a short-lived spike in interest will depend on what people discover when they look past the aesthetic and into the dental realities the ADA is flagging now.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 1:45 PM.
