What is the cause of a gummy smile?

Author: Dr. Josiah Bartoletti II  |  Last update: Sunday, September 14, 2025

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?

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.

Why did I develop a gummy smile?

The enamel on your teeth can slowly wear down over time, making the teeth look smaller. That can make the gums look prominent, resulting in a gummy smile.

Is a gummy smile attractive?

Some people with a more pronounced gummy type of smile look amazing and happy to other people. Realistically speaking, a gummy smile is more often felt to be less attractive to the person in the mirror, not others that may look at you.

Is gummy smile unhealthy?

Gummy smiles are usually more common among women, mainly those in their 20s and 30s. They not only create an unpleasant appearance but also signifies bad dental health that requires immediate medical care from the dentist in Phoenix, AZ.

Causes of GUMMY SMILE - Do you show a lot of GUM when you SMILE? ©

Can you stop 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.

What is the most unhealthy candy for your teeth?

Dr. Bartusiak said, “The worst candies are those that are highest in sugar and linger in the mouth. Some examples would be caramels, taffy, gummies, pixy sticks, and lollipops.” While some chocolate may seem more sumptuous, it dissolves faster, not staying on teeth.

What does a gummy smile say about a person?

Generally the gummy smile is the result of genetics, which is to say you are predisposed to how much gums show when you smile. Normally, as permanent teeth emerge, gums are supposed to naturally pull back. For most people their gums will pull back to a level that looks normal, natural and esthetic.

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 celebrities have a gummy smile?

Celebrities Sporting Gummy Smiles
  • Luciana Damon. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
  • Nicole Kidman. Source: http://www.thehairstyler.com.
  • Katie Couric. Source: flickr.com by user Nicki Webber Moore via Wikimedia Commons.

How rare is a gummy smile?

At around three millimeters or more, the smile was thought to be gummy. Interestingly, the condition is more common in women than men. Some experts predict that about 14% of women and 7% of men have excessive gingival display.

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.

Does mouth breathing cause a gummy smile?

When an individual consistently breathes through his mouth, the muscle groups on the face and jaw are pulled in an abnormal way, which over time can cause bone deformities. Mouth breathing also irritates gum tissue, which can lead to inflammation (gummy smile) and gingivitis.

Why do I suddenly have a gummy smile?

Most of the time, a gummy smile is caused by an upper jaw that is longer than it should be for the size of the face and the amount of lip tissue available to cover the gums. This means too much gum tissue on both sides of the teeth.

Can flossing help a gummy smile?

If you want to get rid of your gummy smile, there are several treatment options you can do. These include: Brushing and Flossing Daily. It's important to brush and floss daily to remove food particles and bacteria from between your teeth and under your gum line.

Does gummy smile go away with age?

Studies demonstrate that women tend to exhibit more gingiva in their smiles compared to men, and the prevalence of a gummy smile tends to decrease with age. Age-related factors, such as the loss of muscle tone, contribute to the reduced visibility of upper teeth and increased visibility of lower teeth.

What is an unattractive smile?

There can be some structural issues like a protruding jaw, excess gum display because the facial muscles are over active, etc. Broken, stained, and chipped teeth, front incisors that stick out too far, or other issues can affect a person's smile.

Did Megan Fox get veneers?

Before rising to fame, Megan's teeth appeared slightly less aligned and not as gleaming white as they do now. Many experts speculate that she underwent aesthetic dentistry, likely opting for porcelain veneers, to achieve her radiant Hollywood smile.

What is the rarest smile?

The rarest smile type is the complex smile, with only an estimated 2% of the population possessing this smile. This smile is rare because it requires three muscle groups to work simultaneously when smiling.

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.

What is another word for gummy smile?

Gummy smile, also known as excessive gingival display, is a smile that shows gum under the upper lip.

How to stop a gummy smile?

With the use of traditional metal braces, lingual braces or Invisalign aligners, your bite can be shifted into a position which makes your gums appear less prominent. More moderate or severe protrusions of the jaw may need to be treated with jaw surgery and orthodontic treatment combined.

Are M&Ms bad for your teeth?

Candies that melt—like M&Ms and other chocolates—are a much more tooth-friendly option. Your saliva should be able to wash away the sugar from melty candy before it can do much damage. Just remember to chew carefully if your chocolate contains any hard ingredients like nuts.

Are twizzlers bad for your teeth?

Chewy Candies: Caramel, toffee, Twizzlers, fudge, and other chewy treats might hit your sweet spot – and then stay there for some time. Since these candies stick to your teeth, they have the staying power that provides bacteria with ample opportunity to consume the sugar, producing acids.

What do Jolly Ranchers do to your teeth?

Unfortunately, their hard nature can increase the chances of your teeth chipping or breaking. Also, sucking on hard candies like Jolly Ranchers for a while coats your teeth in sugar and puts them at risk for cavities and decay. Ideally, you'd avoid Jolly Ranchers altogether.

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