Smiley (Frenulum) Piercing in Mississauga, ON
Xtremities Tattoo and Piercing offers the smiley piercing, also called a frenulum piercing, in Mississauga, ON. We welcome clients from across Mississauga, including Cooksville, Port Credit, Streetsville, Erin Mills, and the Square One area, as well as nearby Oakville, Brampton, and Etobicoke. Our piercers work needle-only and start you on implant-grade jewellery. This is an anatomy-dependent oral piercing that does not suit every mouth. We begin with an honest consultation to check whether your frenulum can hold one safely.
Call (905) 897-3503 to ask our piercers about a frenulum piercing.
What Is a Smiley Piercing?
A smiley piercing is a ring or small bar placed through the labial frenulum. That is the thin flap of tissue that connects the inside of your upper lip to your gum. You can feel your frenulum easily. Close your lips and run your tongue up between your lip and your teeth. It is called a smiley because the jewellery hides behind your lip. It only appears when you smile. Some people call it a scrumper for the same reason. This makes it a subtle and cute piercing, and it is one of the most discreet oral piercings. It suits people who want body jewellery they can keep out of sight at work or school.
Call (905) 897-3503 to ask our piercers about a smiley piercing.
Why Choose Xtremities Tattoo and Piercing for Your Smiley Piercing in Mississauga, ON?
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Our head piercer is APP-certified with over 15 years of experience
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We give you an honest anatomy and bite check first. We tell you plainly if your frenulum will not hold jewellery safely.
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We use single-use hollow needles for clean piercings, never a piercing gun
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We start you on hypoallergenic implant-grade titanium and surgical steel jewellery, with soft bioplast for anyone who reacts to metal
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We've won Readers' Choice awards two years in a row.
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We offer free jewellery downsize once the swelling settles
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Our clients enjoy regular piercing discounts through the year
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We are the longest-running piercing studio in Mississauga
Call (905) 897-3503 to book a consultation.
Professional Smiley Piercing Services in Mississauga
Our smiley piercing service covers everything from your first consultation to your free downsize. A smiley is an advanced oral piercing, so we treat it as one. First, your piercer studies the frenulum behind your upper lip. They check whether it has enough tissue to hold a ring. They also check how your top teeth meet your gum, so the jewellery will not press on your teeth.
If your anatomy will not carry a smiley safely, we tell you. We can then suggest a piercing that suits your mouth better. Once we confirm it can work, we mark the spot and pierce with a single-use needle. We fit the ring with a little room for swelling. Once the swelling settles, we bring you back to downsize it for free.
Call (905) 897-3503 to plan your smiley piercing.
Is a Smiley Piercing Right for Your Anatomy?
A smiley only works if your frenulum is long and thick enough to hold jewellery. This is the first thing we check. A ring forced into thin or high-set tissue tends to migrate or be rejected. A ring that rests against your teeth can wear the enamel and pull your gum back over time.
A smiley may not be safe for you if:
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Your frenulum is short, thin, or set high against your gum
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Your top teeth sit in a way that would let the ring rub them
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You wear braces or have other dental work the jewellery could catch on
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You already have gum recession or gum disease
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You have enamel wear or ongoing tooth problems
We check all of this at your consultation, then we give you a straight answer. If a smiley is not right for you, we can suggest another look that suits your mouth.
Call (905) 897-3503 to book an anatomy check.
Does a Smiley Piercing Hurt?
Most people rate a smiley about 2 or 3 out of 10. It is one of the gentler piercings we do. The frenulum is thin, so the needle passes through fast. The sharp feeling is over in a second. Some people say the clamp feels stranger than the piercing itself. Your upper lip may feel tender for a few days, but the piercing itself is quick.
Call (905) 897-3503 to talk through what to expect.
Smiley Piercing at a Glance
How Long Does a Smiley Piercing Take to Heal?
A smiley usually heals on the surface in about four to twelve weeks, which is faster than many other piercings. Your mouth has a rich blood supply, and saliva helps it heal quickly. It is also full of bacteria, so clean aftercare matters from day one. How fast yours heals depends on your body and your aftercare.
Aftercare Instructions
Good aftercare keeps your smiley healing cleanly. It also lowers the risk of irritation or infection.
What to do:
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Rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash or a sterile saline rinse after every meal and before bed
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Stick to soft foods for the first few days
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Eat slowly so you do not bite the ring
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Keep brushing as normal, but be gentle around the ring
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Drink plenty of water to help keep your mouth clean
What to avoid:
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Alcohol, smoking, and spicy or acidic food during early healing
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Playing with the jewellery with your tongue or fingers
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Kissing until your piercer says it has healed
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Sharing drinks, cups, or utensils
When to see a dentist or doctor:
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Spreading redness around the piercing
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Heavy swelling that does not settle
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Heat, or thick or coloured discharge
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Pain that gets worse instead of better
Downsizing Your Jewellery
Downsizing means swapping the long starter ring for a shorter one. We do it once the swelling goes down. We fit the first ring with extra room, so your lip can swell in the early weeks. Once the swelling settles, that longer ring can rub your teeth and gums. It can also snag when you eat. So we bring you back to fit a snug piece. There is no service charge for your first downsize. It keeps the piercing comfortable and keeps metal off your teeth.
Call (905) 897-3503 to book your free downsize.
Smiley Piercing Jewellery
The right jewellery is a big part of a healthy smiley. The ring sits against soft tissue and close to your teeth, so you want a small, light, low-reaction piece. This helps with both comfort and healing.
Jewellery Styles
Some jewellery styles include:
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Captive bead ring: a small hoop held closed by one bead that peeks out when you smile. This is the usual starter piece.
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Circular barbell: a horseshoe shape with a bead on each end. It is popular and easy to adjust.
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Seamless ring: a plain hoop that gives the most subtle look.
Once you heal, many people switch to a smooth or curved piece. This puts less metal against the teeth and gums.
Materials
Materials we have include:
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Implant-grade titanium, also called ASTM F-136 titanium. It is light and hypoallergenic.
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Nickel-tested 316L surgical steel. This is another safe starter metal.
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Soft bioplast for anyone with a metal sensitivity or slow healing.
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Solid 14k or 18k gold once you are fully healed, if you want a gold smiley piercing.
We keep plated jewellery out of a fresh piercing. The coating can flake and irritate the tissue.
Gauge and Size
A smiley is usually done at 16 gauge, and sometimes 18 gauge. This is a comfortable thickness for thin tissue. The ring diameter is small and the exact size depends on your anatomy. We measure your frenulum and fit a starter ring with room for swelling.
Call (905) 897-3503 to see our smiley piercing jewellery.
Smiley Piercing Risks and How We Reduce Them
A smiley carries real risks. Most of them come down to jewellery rubbing where it should not. The frenulum is thin, and your mouth moves a lot. So a smiley is more likely than most piercings to migrate or work its way out.
The main risks are:
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Gum recession where the ring sits against your gum
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Enamel wear on the back of your teeth
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Migration, where the piercing slowly shifts
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Rejection, where the body pushes the ring out
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Infection, since the mouth carries a lot of bacteria
Here is how we reduce them:
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We only pierce a frenulum that has enough tissue and a suitable bite
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We fit a small, correctly sized ring
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We downsize you once the swelling settles
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We move you to smooth or curved jewellery once you heal
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We screen honestly and turn a smiley down when a mouth cannot carry one safely
Call (905) 897-3503 to book a consultation.
The Smiley Piercing Process at Xtremities
Here is how a smiley works at our Mississauga studio, step by step. Every stage focuses on placing the ring safely:
Consultation:
You start with a sit-down about the piercing. We talk through the look you want. We explain how a smiley works. We also handle ID and consent here.
Anatomy and Bite Check:
Your piercer studies the frenulum behind your upper lip. They check how your top teeth meet your gum. This decides whether the piercing is safe and which ring will fit.
Marking and Placement:
Your piercer marks the spot. You approve it in a mirror. Careful marking keeps the ring level and clear of your teeth.
Needle Piercing:
Your piercer passes a single-use hollow needle through the frenulum. It goes through in one clean motion. The thin tissue keeps this step quick and the pain low.
Jewellery Insertion:
We follow the needle with your fitted ring. We check that it sits comfortably. Then we walk you through aftercare, so you know how to care for it at home
Gauge and Size
A smiley is usually done at 16 gauge, and sometimes 18 gauge. This is a comfortable thickness for thin tissue. The ring diameter is small and the exact size depends on your anatomy. We measure your frenulum and fit a starter ring with room for swelling.
Call (905) 897-3503 to see our smiley piercing jewellery.
Our Safety and Sterilization Standards
At Xtremities, clean and safe piercing comes first. Every smiley starts with a fresh hollow needle that we open in front of you, fitted with implant-grade jewellery. You will not find a piercing gun here, because a gun cannot be sterilized the way a single-use needle can. We clean our tools in an autoclave and seal them in dated pouches, so you can see exactly when each one was prepared. On top of that, we spore-test our sterilizer every day to make sure it is doing its job. It is the same standard that has carried us through more than 20 years without a single failed health inspection.
Meet Our Smiley Piercers
One of our experienced piercers does your smiley piercing, taking extra care with an oral piercing this delicate.
Valeria
Valeria has pierced with us since 2018 and is known for precise placement and a calm, steady manner. She takes her time with fine oral work and checks in with you at each step, which matters for a piercing that depends on exact placement.
Gwen
Gwen brings a sharp eye for detail and a steady hand to advanced piercings. She is comfortable planning placement that has to line up just right, which makes her a strong choice for the thin tissue of a smiley.
Call (905) 897-3503 to book with Gwen or Valeria.
Book Your Smiley Piercing in Mississauga
Ready for a smiley piercing? Book yours at Xtremities Tattoo and Piercing in central Mississauga. Because a smiley depends so much on your anatomy, we suggest starting with a consultation, which lets us check your frenulum and order the right ring if you need one. You will find us on Dundas Street West, just half a block west of Hurontario. Walk-ins are always welcome, and we are open every day of the week.
Call (905) 897-3503 today to book your smiley piercing.
Other Oral and Lip Piercings We Offer
If you are planning your look, explore our other mouth piercings:
Our Lip Piercing styles:
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Labret
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Medusa, also called Philtrum
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Monroe
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Vertical Labret
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Ashley
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Snake Bites
Our Tongue Piercing styles:
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Standard
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Double
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Venom
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Frog Eyes
Our Studio
Xtremities Tattoo & Piercing Studio
37 Dundas St W, Mississauga, ON L5B 1H2
(905) 897-3503
Operational Hours:
Monday to Friday: 12–9 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m
Sunday: 12–6 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a smiley piercing last?
A smiley is not usually a permanent piercing. Because the frenulum is thin and the area moves so much, many smileys migrate or reject over time, and it is common for one to last around a year, though plenty last several years with the right jewellery and good aftercare. If you take the jewellery out, the piercing can also close quickly. We help you get the longest, healthiest run out of yours by fitting the right piece and keeping metal off your teeth.
How much is a smiley piercing?
The price of a smiley depends mostly on the jewellery you choose, so it sits in line with our other oral piercings and covers the piercing, your starter jewellery, and full aftercare advice. We also run regular piercing discounts through the year, so it is worth asking what is on when you book. Call us for an exact quote before your appointment.
Do smiley piercings damage your teeth and gums?
They can, which is why placement and jewellery choice matter so much. When a ring rests against your teeth it can wear the enamel and push your gum back over time. We reduce that risk by checking your bite before we pierce, fitting a small and correctly sized ring, downsizing you after the swelling settles, and moving you to smooth or curved jewellery once you heal.
Can everyone get a smiley piercing?
No. A smiley only works if the frenulum behind your upper lip has enough tissue to hold a ring, and many people do not. If yours is too thin or set too high, or if you have braces, gum disease, or enamel wear, a smiley is not safe. We check this at your consultation and tell you if it will not work.
Can you see a smiley piercing?
Only when you smile. The ring sits behind your upper lip and stays hidden the rest of the time, which is where the name comes from. That makes it a good choice if you want a piercing you can keep discreet.
Can I eat and drink normally with a smiley piercing?
You can, but take it slowly at first. Stick to soft foods for the first few days, chew carefully so you do not bite the ring, and rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash or saline after you eat. Most people are back to normal eating within a week or two.
Can I kiss with a new smiley piercing?
It is best to wait until your piercing has healed before kissing. Your mouth already carries a lot of bacteria, and adding more can lead to irritation or infection while the piercing is still fresh. Ask your piercer when it is safe to kiss again.
Can I get a smiley piercing if I have braces?
We usually recommend waiting until your braces come off. Braces give the ring one more thing to catch on, which raises the chance of irritation and snagging. Once your dental work is finished, come in, and we will check whether your anatomy can support a smiley.
Why do some piercers refuse to do smiley piercings?
Some studios turn every smiley down because the jewellery can rub the teeth and gums and the piercing often migrates or rejects. We do offer smiley piercings, but only after an honest anatomy and bite check, and we decline when a mouth cannot carry one safely. Our goal is a piercing that heals well and does not harm your teeth.