July 26, 2023

The Science of Gummy Smiles: Understanding Causes and Treatment Options

by Sky Wellington in Reviews

A person’s smile can be contagious or can be repulsive depending upon the features one may have. Smiling is also one of the things that can make other people like you while understanding the science behind it is necessary that too much of anything is not likeable. Having a gummy smile can stop you from having a beautiful smile to make an impression.

When it comes to facial expression, a smile helps you and the other person convey whatever you want. Too much gum gives you a gummy smile, while less gum gives you a toothy smile. In both cases, it is not in favour of you. There are surgical procedures available that can help you have the perfect smile you always wanted.

Consult a doctor before proceeding with any treatment; sometimes, your gum-related problem is because of medication or some activities in your daily life resulting in that. Here are some things to know before going through the gummy smile treatment.  

About Gummy Smiles – An Overview   

It is imperative to know the general standard of how much gum makes a gummy smile and how much teeth make a toothy smile, and are you being classified in either of those categories? A gummy smile is where too many gums are visible when smiling, and a toothy smile is where too many teeth are visible regarding your smile.

What is a Gummy Smile? When too much of the gums are visible, or the ratio of gums to teeth is too much, it’s called a gummy smile. There are many treatments for specific conditions to help give you the best treatment possible.

A toothy smile happens when you have a receding gum line. Both of these conditions create an even symmetry to your smile, which can take away the beautiful structure of your smile. Here is the ultimate guide to causes and treatments for gummy smiles.

How Many People Have Gummy Smiles?

According to experts and researchers, 10% of adults ranging from 20 to 30 years of age consider their smile gummy, while women more often than men consider too much of their gums visible when they smile.

Factors That Contribute Towards Gummy Smile

To have a general standard for gummy smiles is nearly impossible since the face proportions of everyone are different; hence the measurements are also different. When looks are disproportionate, it is considered to have a gummy smile.

  • The angle of the jaw in comparison to the face.
  • Height of teeth.
  • Shape and size of your teeth.
  • The shapes of your lips.
  • It only takes a few millimetres up or down to make your smile not perfect.

Cause Of Gummy Smile

In an era where looks are preferred over personality, it is essential to keep your appearance top-notch. There can be many reasons for your gummy smile, but here are some of the most common reasons.

  • When teeth come out uniformly or erupt improperly and remain covered by gum tissue.
  • Sometimes teeth appear small due to genetics, or they wear off for some reason.
  • Your upper lip is too short.
  • In this case, the hyperactive lip appears normal at the resting position, but when laughing, it stretches or goes up too much, exposing many teeth and gums.
  • Having enlarged gums that come with gingival hypertrophy.
  • Sometimes excessive growth in the upper jaw makes the gum bulge out.
  • Medication medications have side effects you can never expect. One of those is either receding gums or overgrowing gums.

Gummy smile Treatment

  • If the cause of the gummy smile is due to the jaw or the teeth, it can be fixed by orthodontics, where they shift the bite into a correct position, making the gums look less. Braces are used, which are made out of titanium implants and are used for a temporary time.
  • Veneers or crown implants can help solve the problem if the teeth are too short, giving you a gummy smile. These options can elongate your teeth to fit in the perfect ratio with the gums.
  • In conditions where too many gums are the only problem, they are removed surgically and then reshaped perfectly to align them with your teeth.
  • When your teeth aren’t erupted correctly, choosing crown lengthening surgery is a viable option since extra tissue is removed to show the hidden teeth and gums retract back to their proper place.
  • Lip surgery is recommended if the condition is not too intense and if the lip is short or hyperactive upper lip. However, this may need extra orthodontic care.
  • Gum contouring is also available where excess tissue is removed with the help of the laser, and there is no need to blade underneath all that soft tissue.
  • Botox treatment is not permanent. Here, the doctor inserts Botox in your upper lip, preventing it from lifting too high.