Would You Tattoo the Roof of Your Mouth?

One of the best parts about the tattoo world is artists are encouraged to be inventive, such as creating a new style that no one has done before. And for Belgian artist Indy Voet, he’s earned a name for himself by inking some of the most unconventional locations on the human body—from behind the ears to the gums to the finger webs. However, perhaps his most catching specialty is tattooing the roof of the mouth, a technique he’s perfected with years of practice.

“I started doing these about four years ago,” shares Voet. “I was a piercer for 10 years before tattooing, so doing tattoos in uncommon spots feels natural.”

For this process, Voet uses a handpoking technique rather than a machine, explaining that the machine would be too harsh on this location and too difficult to get to. “I don’t really use anything other than a needle and some dexterity, combined with the trust of my client.”

As for the experience from the client’s perspective, Voet swears it’s not as bad as you might think. “Nine out of 10 people describe these tattoos as being almost painless or at least, very easy to handle. The other 10% mostly complain about jaw muscle aches, which seems logical.”

When it comes to the aftermath, Voet uses his experience as a professional piercer to inform his advice on taking care of the tattoo. “Healing [these tattoos] is like any other mouth tattoo or piercing—don’t have anything too spicy, no strong liquor and be careful what you put in your mouth for a couple of days. Other than that, the natural resources of the mouth do the rest.”

What do you think about these tattoos? Would you get a tattoo on the roof of your mouth? Let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments section and take a look at some of Voet’s other tattoos in the comments section.