What causes a gummy smile?

Posted by: Dr. Sirakian Categories: Uncategorized

While a gummy smile can just be a result of having too much gums, there are a few other issues that could be going on that make a person’s smile appear gummy, such as:

Improperly erupted teeth – If someone’s teeth erupt improperly, they could end up with only part of their teeth showing while the rest are hidden by the gums. When this occurs, a procedure called crown lengthening is used to remove some gum tissue in order to reveal the teeth underneath.

Short teeth – Although some people just naturally have short teeth due to genetics, others may have shortened their teeth due to wear. In such a case removing gums could be harmful. Instead, a patient can be treated with dental veneers and crowns that cover the original tooth and display a more appealing gum-to-tooth proportion.

Short upper lip – Most people have lips that cover most of the gums even when smiling. If someone has a short upper lip, however, they could appear to have a gummy smile, when, in fact, their gum to tooth proportions are completely normal. In such a case the patient will have to undergo lip surgery in order to correct the abnormality.

Hypermobile upper lip – Some people don’t have very visible gums until they smile wide, at which point their upper lip extends further up than it does for most people. As with short-lipped people, these people will have to undergo lip surgery in order to resolve the issue.

Long gums – For some people, their smile is gummy because it actually is, indeed, too gummy. People with this condition grow longer gum tissue than most and undergo a treatment that’s similar to that of people with teeth that haven’t erupted properly. The procedure, called gum contouring, involves cutting back the gum tissue to achieve better proportions.

If you have a gummy smile, you can ask your dentist for treatment options and work with them to find the right one for you.

ADA Recommends Earlier Fluoride Distribution for Children

When you think about dental hygiene for your kids, are brushing and flossing the only things that come to mind? These two items are highly important to maintain good oral health, but recently, the American Dental Association “recommends earlier fluoride distribution for children,” meaning parents will have to put a tad more effort in caring […]

Three Foods that Keep Your Teeth Healthy

We all know that brushing daily is a must if we want clean teeth and a healthy mouth. But, have you ever wondered what are some of the natural ways you can maintain your oral health? To satisfy your curiosity, here is a list of natural foods that help keep your teeth strong and healthy. […]

Mouth Guards: The Best Way to Save Hundreds on Dental Procedures

It is estimated that 200,000 football mouth injuries are prevented each year through the use of protection. Proper protection gear not only protect you and your loved ones from injury, but also from the cost of the procedures involved in healing in the injury. When it comes to protecting your mouth during physical activity, there […]

How to Brush Your Teeth Properly

Since childhood, we’ve been told that we need to brush our teeth to be healthy by our parents, our doctors, and of course, our dentists. However, what you may not know is that how you brush matters just as much as whether or not you brush at all. Here are the answers to some frequently […]

Four Side Effects to Not Brushing Your Teeth

Dentists around the world encourage brushing your teeth at least twice a day, every day. But why? Aside from the cosmetic perks of brushing your teeth, there are many additional health benefits to keep your pearly whites… well… pearly white! Halitosis Most obviously, brushing your teeth daily wards off halitosis (popularly known as bad breath)! […]