I have been a seamstress all my life. I've never used my mouth for a pin cushion, for this very reason. I did however, sew the needle through my finger on the right edge of my nail. I remember turning white...because I couldn't move my finger, then rolling the wheel backwards to lift the needle then leaning on the table and the counter so I wouldn't faint. I made it to the kitchen sink and ran water over my finger. My daughter poured peroxide on it and I was fine...after wards. Took me a few days to get up the courage to get back to the sewing machine though.