The history of mouth piercings: from ancient rituals to modern self-expression
The history of mouth piercings goes back to ancient times. Various cultures and peoples used jewelry in the mouth area, often for religious or cultural reasons.
- Aztecs and Maya: In Mesoamerica, priests and the elite often wore labret piercings, flat disks or pieces of stone pierced through the lower lip. These piercings often symbolized high social status or religious power.
- Africa: In some African cultures, tooth piercings were used to mark the transition to adulthood or to indicate membership of a particular tribe.
- Southeast Asia: In parts of Southeast Asia, stretching of the earlobes and lips was practiced, often with large wooden or metal plates. These modifications had both aesthetic and cultural significance.
Modern times:
- 1960s and 1970s: The 1960s and 1970s saw a renewed interest in body modification as part of the counterculture movement, including mouth piercings.
- 1980s and 1990s: In the 1980s and 1990s, mouth jewelry became increasingly popular, especially in the punk and rock subculture. Tongue and lip piercings became more and more common, and new types of jewelry appeared on the market.
- Today: Mouth piercings are widespread nowadays and are worn by people of all ages and cultures. They are often seen as a form of expression of individuality and personal style.
Popular types of mouth piercings:
- Labret: A piercing through the lower lip.
- Tongue: Various piercings through the tongue, z. B. Middle tongue, tip of the tongue, frenulum of the tongue.
- Lip frenulum: A piercing through the thin tissue between the lip and gum.
- Snakebites: Two labret piercings next to each other.
- Ashley: A piercing in the center of her upper lip.
- Monroe: A piercing on the right upper lip, in the place where a beauty mark normally sits.
Before piercing a mouth piercing:
It is important to inform yourself thoroughly before getting a mouth piercing. Choose a reputable piercing studio and an experienced piercer. Make sure that the equipment used is sterilized and the jewelry is made of high-quality material. Find out about the risks and proper care of the piercing.
To summarize, mouth piercings have a long history dating back to ancient cultures. Nowadays, they are a popular form of body modification and are worn by people of all ages and cultures.