William Morgan
The stunning victory of Team USA's star figure skater Alysa Liu has become one of the most memorable moments of this year's Milan-Cortina Olympic games, as has her unique sense of style.
After her success at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, people have noticed that the 20-year-old champion skater does not just flash metal when she shreds her way to the first place podium, but also when she smiles.
This is because she has a 'smiley' piercing, which can only really be seen when you open your mouth wide, like when you are smiling. And with two new gold medals hanging around her neck, Liu has lots to grin about.
With so much fresh attention on the star skater with a Gen Z style after coming first in both the women's single and team events, health experts have warned that getting one of these trendy piercings can actually have pretty dire consequences.
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The breakthrough talent, who has been skating since she was just five, shared further information about her unusual piercing during an interview in the lead-up to the Winter Olympics.
Speaking to TMJ4 News, the Olympian shockingly admitted that she had done the piercing herself, adding: "I pierced it a little over two years ago now."
Well, almost by herself. She also said: "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."
These 'smiley' piercings involve putting a piece of ring-shaped piece of metal through your mouth's frenulum, a soft piece of tissue that connects your gums to your lips. Then, a metal ball is screwed on the end to keep it in place.
This display of style and self belief, required to put some metal through this sensitive spot, is as evident in her iconic stripy hair and pierced gum as it was in her expectation-challenging performance in the free skating event.
But oral health experts are warning the public to not follow in Liu's example, with 'smiley' piercings posing a serious hazard to your mouth.
Dental advice organization MouthHealthy explains: "Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection and swelling often occur with mouth piercings.
"For instance, your mouth and tongue could swell so much that you close off your airway or you could possibly choke if part of the jewelry breaks off in your mouth."
"In some cases, you could crack a tooth if you bite down too hard on the piercing, and repeated clicking of the jewelry against teeth can also cause damage."
Any piercings that touch your teeth will have this damaging effect, with many of those with similar piercings experiencing infection, swelling, bleeding and scarring, with the risk of jewelry becoming embedded in your mouth and requiring surgical removal.
In general, any piercings that touch your gums or teeth will damage them and cause issues in the long term. The guide added: "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. Talk to your dentist for more information."