After winning a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, photographers zeroed in on U.S. figure skater Alyssa Liu’s teeth – and the silver spikes that appeared to hover over them.
The 20-year-old athlete, from California, has what’s called a frenulum or “smiley” piercing, one that pierces the skin connecting the gums to the upper lip.
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Liu did the piercing herself, she explained in an interview before the games.
But while the body jewelry may look cool, experts warn getting these piercings come with a risk of infection and can damage oral health.
Mouth piercings are particularly risky because of the millions of bacteria
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