Q: Are all oral piercings damaging to your teeth or are there ones that aren't so bad? I hear a lot of bad things about them.

-Steph G

A: If you want an oral piercing that is certain not to mess with your teeth and gums, you can’t go wrong with vertical. Vertical labret, vertical lip, and vertical philtrum piercings all go vertically (natch) through the lip itself without ever entering the oral cavity. Since they don’t make any contact with your teeth, there’s no worry about dental damage. Vertical upper lip piercings, sometimes called “angel fangs” are actually super hot right now, as are vertical oral piercings in general. So not only will you potentially save your teeth and gums from harm, you’ll be totally on-trend. Happy piercing!

Q: I don't have any sensitivities to any metals as far as I know but is it best to stick with hypoallergenic jewelry anyway just to avoid irritation?

-Saydee

A: The most common cause of metal allergies is nickel. Nickel allergies can appear at any stage of life and can be triggered simply by stress. If you want to play it safe and avoid the possibility of having to deal with an allergic reaction, your best bet is to stick to ASTM F-136 titanium, niobium, or rhodium jewelry. These should be free of any trace of nickel and are commonly used in piercing jewelry although rhodium and niobium may be more difficult to source. Also, beware of the term “hypoallergenic”, as it is similar to the term “natural” …. it’s descriptive but ultimately meaningless. (Earthquakes, arsenic, and leprosy are natural. They can still hurt you. Hypoallergenic is the same, it’s not a guarantee that you won’t be allergic to it.) Best of luck!

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Disclaimer: Body Candy is only here to give you fun and helpful advice and information when it comes to getting pierced. Always consult a professional piercer to make sure a new piercing is right for you!