If you kept even half an eye on the 2026 Winter Olympics, you might have sat up and taken notice of the appearance of Team USA star Alysa Liu.
The 20-year-old figure skater was a standout performer during this year’s Games, winning gold in the women’s singles event on February 19 to add to the team gold she won on February 8.
In doing so, Liu became the first American to win an individual Olympic figure skating gold medal in almost a quarter century (24 years, to be exact), and the first medalist for Team USA in the event since 2006.
Making her feats all the more impressive, Liu returned to the sport in 2023 after an almost two-year retirement that began in 2022 due to burnout following the Beijing Winter Olympics.
And while her exceptional skills on the ice were more than deserved of attention, it was an unusual aspect of her appearance that quickly saw her go viral.
Having scored 150.20 in the free skate, pushing her overall total score to 226.79, Liu was a fitting winner of the gold medal. As she celebrated, cameras zoomed in on a strange ornament decorating her upper lip, consisting of what looked to be two silver spikes placed above her teeth.
The jewelry, reportedly known as a “smiley” piercing, sees a ring or bar inserted through the tissue that connects the upper gum to the lip – the piercing is only visible when an individual smiles or otherwise makes a wide facial expression.
Speaking back in January, Liu told NBC’s TMJ4 News that she had done the piercing herself with the help of her sister.
“I pierced it a little over two years ago now,” she explained.
“I had my sister hold up my lip, and I was looking up and I had my piercing needle… and then, yeah, I just put it through.”
Needless to say, the piercing garnered significant interest online. So much so, in fact, that dentists are now warning fans not to mimic the piercing, especially if they’re planning to do so at home.
The American Dental Association (ADA) warns that oral piercings pose heightened risks due to the amount of bacteria present in the mouth.
“Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection and swelling often occur with mouth piercings,” according to a guide published by MouthHealthy, in partnership with the ADA.
“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,” it continues.
“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.”
“Of course, the best option is to consider removing mouth jewelry before it causes a problem,” it later states.
“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.”
The ADA also draw attention to other possible side effects relating to mouth piercings, including infection, swelling, bleeding, scarring, unusual discharge from the piercing site, damage to your teeth and gums, and embedded jewelry that later requires surgical removal.