How does a gummy smile look like?

Author: Prof. Guy Kertzmann III  |  Last update: Friday, June 6, 2025

A gummy smile, also known as “excessive gingival display,” is where too much gum tissue is visible above the top teeth when you smile or open your mouth. We see patients all the time here at Brady Orthodontics who have concerns about their gummy smiles making them feel self-conscious.

How do I know if I have a gummy smile?

If you think your gums show too much when you smile, you may have a condition called a “gummy smile.” This can happen for many different reasons, and there are many ways to treat it, both temporarily and permanently.

What is a gummy smile caused by?

What causes a gummy smile? A gummy smile can result from excessive gum tissue, short teeth, over-erupted teeth, a hyperactive upper lip, or jaw misalignment. Is a gummy smile harmful? No, it's primarily a cosmetic issue and doesn't typically affect dental health.

How do you fix a gummy smile?

Botox is an effective solution to reduce excessive gums for a less gummy look when a person smiles, and it's a quick process. This safe and cost-effective treatment will last anywhere from three to six months with minimal recovery, making it a great solution for fixing a gummy smile in a cinch.

Is a gummy smile more attractive?

Overall, 0 mm gingival exposure was considered to be part of the most attractive smile, while a gingival exposure of 4 mm was considered to describe the least attractive smile.

How Gums When Smiling/ Gummy Smile can be Treated in Minutes

What is the prettiest type of smile?

Attractive smiles have various things in common, such as teeth that are white, unstained, straight, evenly spaced with no gaps between them and not crowded or overlapping. When you smile, your top teeth show fully in a good proportion to your gums. The line where the gums and teeth meet is smooth and even.

What are the disadvantages of gummy smile?

A Gummy Smile: More than Just a Cosmetic Issue
  • Redness, Swelling, and Bleeding. It is easy for overgrown gums to become red and inflamed, particularly if gum disease is the reason for the extra tissue. ...
  • Trapped Bacteria and Tooth Decay. ...
  • Total Tooth Coverage. ...
  • What You Can Do.

How much does gummy smile surgery cost?

Gummy smile surgery can cost patients anywhere from $500 to $9,000, depending on the individual patient's needs and causes of the gummy smile. Since all patients are unique and some may only need non-surgical botox solutions, some may need several treatments or surgery to correct their gummy smiles.

Which type of smile is rarest?

The complex smiles is found in only about 2% of the population. Both upper and lower lip are actively pulled during smiling. The levators of the upper lip, the levators of the corners of the mouth, and the depressors of the lower lip contract simultaneously, showing all of the upper and lower teeth concurrently.

Is it OK to have a gummy smile?

A gummy smile with too much gums isn't an oral health concern, but many patients find them to be aesthetically displeasing. The concern can go the other way too—gum recession can result in too much of your teeth being exposed which can be an oral health issue.

How long does a gummy smile last?

How long does gummy smile Botox last? Gummy Smile Botox usually lasts between three and five months.

How to avoid a gummy smile?

Let's look at some of the treatments available to address the issues associated with a gummy smile!
  1. Orthodontics. If the cause of a gummy smile is a bad bite, orthodontic treatment like braces or clear aligners can help fix it. ...
  2. Veneers or Crowns. ...
  3. Scaling and Root Planing. ...
  4. Gum Lift or Crown Lengthening. ...
  5. Lip Lowering.

What celebrities have a gummy smile?

A gummy smile is an excessive display of gums. You're showing too much of your gums above your front teeth when you smile. Jennifer Garner, Nicole Kidman, and Gwen Stefani are just some Hollywood celebrities sporting a gummy smiles. The excessive gingival display doesn't cause problems.

Why do I suddenly have a gummy smile?

A hyperactive lip occurs when the muscles in the upper lip and under the nose are, well, hyperactive. This repeated overuse of those muscles can cause the top lip to raise and expose gum tissue. Perhaps the most common cause of a gummy smile is simply having too much gum tissue.

What age do people get gummy smiles?

Experts estimate that about 14% of women and 7% of men have gummy smiles. The condition is most prevalent during the 20s and 30s and tends to decrease with age.

How much does a gingivectomy cost?

According to the American Dental Association 2020 Survey of Dental Fees, a gingivectomy can cost between $210—$861. The total cost can depend on how many teeth are treated, the surgical method used and more.

Which smile is most attractive?

Pearly white smiles are the most attractive because they look clean and well taken care of. Though some discoloration is natural over time, certain lifestyle factors can accelerate the darkening process and cause staining.

How rare is a gummy smile?

This condition is more common than you might think. Currently, 10.5 to 29% of young adults have this trait. Interestingly, gummy smiles are more common in women than men, although anyone can develop one.

What is a flirty smile?

A flirtatious smile is playful, with eyes slightly squinted or a slight head tilt.

Does insurance cover gummy smiles?

In most cases, gummy smile correction procedures are considered cosmetic and will therefore not be covered by dental insurance.

Can you fix a gummy smile without surgery?

Conclusion: Non-Surgical Solutions for Gummy Smiles

If you're looking for a quick, non-invasive fix, Botox, lip fillers, and laser gum contouring can provide fast, effective results.

Does gummy smile surgery hurt?

During the entire gum contouring surgery process, the patient is under anesthesia, so there is no pain. A few hours after surgery – when the anesthesia wears off, the patient takes painkillers as prescribed by the dentist.

Is a gummy smile attractive?

“Gummy smile”, also known as “excessive gingival display” occurs when the upper gums appear beneath the upper lip, especially when smiling. A gummy smile is primarily an aesthetic concern and can lead to the feeling that one's smile is less attractive than it could be.

Can a dentist fix a gummy smile?

A cosmetic dentist can attach crowns or veneers to the teeth to correct a gummy smile. After shaving down the natural teeth, we will place large crowns or veneers on top. This makes the teeth and gums more proportionate.

What can go wrong with gummy smile Botox?

Fortunately, Botox can be administered to improve the appearance of gummy smiles. But what are the side effects of a botox procedure for excessive gingival display? The injection area may show some mild swelling, tenderness, and bruising as a result of the procedure.

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