If your feed is filled with clips of Alysa Liu beaming on the podium at the Milan Cortina, you may have noticed something besides a gold medal: a slight glint of metal in her smile.
That little sparkle? It’s called the smiley drill, and it’s almost as talked about as his historic free skate.
But before you start Googling “smile piercings near me,” the American Dental Association (ADA) has some thoughts you’ll want to hear.
Alysa Liu Just Had the Olympics of a Lifetime
Liu has been one of the biggest names in the 2026 Winter Olympics, and his results live up to the hype.
She helped Team USA win gold in the team skating event on February 8, and followed it up on February 19 with a single gold in the women’s free skate.
That second medal was the one that really rocked the skating world. Liu became the first American woman to win an Olympic figure skating gold medal in 24 years. The last one? Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Milan Cortina’s victory came nearly a year after she won gold at the World Figure Skating Championships in Boston – making her the first American woman to claim the title since 2006.
His social media presence has exploded accordingly. Liu went from 210,000 Instagram followers before the Games to 5.2 million for about two weeks, starting on February 24.
When you get so many eyeballs so quickly, people notice everything. His goods. His habits. And yes, her jewelry.
What is a Smile Piercing?
Fans flooded the comment sections with the same question: What is that? Alysa Liu’s teeth?
Smile piercing – also called lip piercing. According to WebMDis an oral piercing where jewelry is placed on the lip frenulum (labial frenum), a small flap of skin that connects your lip to your gums.
The name comes from the fact that you can only see it when the wearer is smiling.
And Liu has been smiling a lot lately.
The piercing remains hidden most of the time, which is a big part of its appeal. And then you smile, and there’s this metallic glint that catches everyone off guard.
It’s subtle. It’s personal. And for an Olympic gold medalist waving at the cameras, it’s magnetic.
Alysa Liu Pierced Herself
This is where the story turns from good to bad. Liu talked about the piercing in an interview with TMJ4 Newsshared on YouTube Jan. 26.
“Oh, my ‘smiley,'” she said. “I had it pierced a little over two years ago now.” Then came the kicker.
“I did it myself,” he added. “I had my sister lift my lip, and I was looking in the mirror and I had my piercing needle and – yeah, I just put it in.”
Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu made a historic figure skating debut for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, just shy of four years after temporarily retiring from the sport. Alysa has been skiing for most of her life, having started skiing at the age of 5 due to her father’s encouragement, […]
So Olympic gold medalist DIY gets her mouth pierced with her sister acting as an assistant. That kind of casual, just-over-the-top energy is why younger fans have gravitated to Liu. He’s a great athlete and somehow feels like a guy to hang out with.
That said, dental professionals are not exactly on board with his process.
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images
Getty ImagesADA Wants Fans to Hit the Brakes
With Liu now a global star and the smiley piercing trending across platforms, the American Dental Association has a message for anyone tempted to copy the look.
“Oral piercings or tongue piercings may look cool, but they can be dangerous to your health,” the ADA wrote in MouthHealthy website.
“That’s because your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection and inflammation are common with oral piercings,” the ADA continues.
According to the ADA, oral piercings can increase the risk of damaged teeth, gums or fillings, hypersensitivity to metals, nerve damage, excessive drooling and difficulty with dental appointments.
Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu’s signature streaked hair may bring Team USA good luck at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina. Since Liu returned to skating in 2024 after a two-year retirement, she has dominated the rink while rocking white and black horizontal bands in her hair. “Everything […]
That’s a long list of potential piercing problems that most people won’t even notice unless you’re in the middle of laughing.
“Of course the best option is to consider removing oral jewelry before it causes a problem. Don’t get pierced on a whim. Piercings will be an additional burden on your life, requiring constant attention and maintenance,” added the ADA.
What If You Already Have (or Want) an Oral Piercing?
Look, some of you are going to get this piercing anyway. And some of you already have him. The ADA has a care guide for that, too. Their recommendations:
- Keep the piercing clean and free of debris that may collect on the jewelry by using a mouth rinse after each meal.
- Avoid clicking the jewelry against the teeth and avoid pressure on the piercing.
- Check the tightness of your jewelry periodically with clean hands to prevent swallowing or choking if it is loose.
- Remove jewelry when participating in sports.
- Bathe twice a day and don’t stop visiting the dentist.
A smile piercing is not a set-it-and-forget situation. It takes real care to keep both your piercing and your teeth in good condition.
Takeaway for Liu fans
Alysa Liu’s smiley dribbling has become as much a part of her most dangerous Olympic moment as her free skate in Milan Cortina. With her 5.2 million Instagram followers watching every post, her look is generating a lot of interest – and many fans are openly wondering if they should get it.
The appeal is logical: small hidden details that are only visible when you smile, which makes it feel more personal than a regular piercing. Liu’s story of making up for himself and his sister makes it even more interesting.
But the message of the ADA is clear. Oral piercings carry real health risks, from infection and inflammation to nerve damage and cracked teeth.
If the trend calls your name, go in with the knowledge — and maybe leave the DIY path of Olympic gold medalists.
