The first thing people are likely to notice about you is your smile. If you have a gummy smile or an excessive display of the gum, you can feel anxious, even to the point of shying away from social places. Oral hygiene and health are crucial in enhancing confidence and should not be underestimated. Many people are uncomfortable with their smile due to problems like chipped, crooked, or decayed teeth or a gummy smile. You should seek treatment from an experienced cosmetic dentist if you require gummy smile treatment. The Los Angeles Advanced Dentistry has highly skilled dentists who provide advanced treatments. Our dentists offer personalized solutions to give patients smiles that radiate charm and confidence.

Understanding A Gummy Smile

Also known as ‘’excessive gingival display,’’ you could have a gummy smile if, when you smile, at least three millimeters of your gum tissue appears above the top teeth. If little gum tissue is visible, your teeth will appear proportionate to the gums and lips in a balanced smile. People with gummy smiles often feel like the overall harmony of their faces is compromised because their teeth appear small. The teeth can appear small because the gums cover up a significant portion of the teeth.

Causes Of Gummy Smile

Several factors can cause a gummy smile, including:

Genetics And Anatomy

Genetics plays a significant role in gummy smiles for most patients. People with a short upper lip, small teeth, and a prominent jaw will likely have a gummy smile. On rare occasions, a gummy smile can occur because of a condition known as hereditary gingival fibromatosis, abbreviated as HGF. HGF is a progressive but slow enlargement of the keratinized gingiva that becomes severe and causes talking issues in people. A gummy smile can also result from changes in the body’s anatomy, such as hormonal imbalances related to puberty or pregnancy. Blood disorders, mainly leukemia, could also cause or worsen gingival enlargement.

Side Effects Of Medication

Most prescription drugs have side effects on the human body. Enlarged gums can be one of the unintended consequences of consuming certain medications. Some of the medicines that can increase the risk of developing a gummy smile can include:

  • Medicines for heart diseases like Diltiazem, Verapamil, and Nifedipine
  • Phenytoin drugs used by epilepsy patients
  • Immunosuppressants like Cyclosporin A are often used to prevent tissue rejection in transplant patients.

Altered Tooth Eruption

Tooth eruption occurs when the tooth pushes slowly through the gums and visibly emerges in the mouth. This can happen around age six for permanent molars. Sometimes, some teeth fail to erupt well, a case called altered passive eruption (APE). APE can cause your smile to look ‘’gummy’’ because one or more teeth will be covered partially by the gums. In this case, the teeth do not emerge fully into the mouth. This usually can compromise the beauty of a person’s smile, even if it is not widely regarded as a health risk.

Poor Dental Hygiene

An individual’s teeth are not the only mouth section that needs to be protected through proper oral health care. Plaque can find its way under the gums when it builds on your teeth. If this happens, the gums will become inflamed and enlarged. Inflamed and enlarged gums can increase your risk of a gummy smile.

Braces are indirectly associated with gummy smiles because it can be challenging to maintain proper oral hygiene when you have braces. It is always hard for people with traditional braces to floss and brush their teeth because braces can cause obstruction. Bacteria builds up around and in the gums, resulting in inflammation and a gummy smile. People with gum problems can avoid flossing and brushing close to the affected area because of pain, which results in a vicious cycle of poor dental hygiene.

Muscular Factors

A gummy smile can occur because of the muscle tone of the facial muscles, which control the movement of the upper lip. In some individuals, the upper lip muscles can be overactive or strong, causing the lip to lift excessively when smiling.

Jaw Or Bite Misalignments

A misaligned jaw or bite can cause a gummy smile. If the upper jaw is disproportionate or irregularly shaped, the upper lip will lift more when you smile, exposing more gum.

Factors To Consider Before Seeking Treatment For A Gummy Smile

Before undergoing a gummy smile treatment, consulting a dentist is important because the dentist will help you assess the problem and advise you on the appropriate treatment procedure. Some of the factors your dentist will consider include:

  • The actual cause of the gummy smile—this will help determine the appropriate treatment.
  • The cost of the treatment — in this case, a procedure like Botox is cost-effective but temporary. Conversely, orthodontics can be expensive but have long-lasting results.
  • Recovery period — Noninvasive procedures like Botox or gum contouring have shorter healing periods, while surgical treatments take longer.
  • Type of treatment — Procedures like Botox require repeated sessions because it is temporary, while orthognathic surgery provides permanent results

Qualification For Gummy Smile Treatment

The dentist will only recommend gummy smile treatment if:

  • You have more than three millimeters of visible gum portion when smiling
  • You have explicit knowledge about surgical outcomes and potential risks
  • You are an adult and can withstand surgery, and your facial growth has stabilized
  • You have teeth positioning problems, which contribute to excessive gum exposure
  • You will be committed to maintaining proper oral hygiene after surgery
  • If you have a hyperactive or short upper lip, you can be a good candidate for  lip repositioning surgery
  • You have a vertical maxillary excess or jaw misalignment that needs correction
  • You have good oral health, without infections or significant periodontal disease

Types Of Gummy Smile Treatment

There are many ways to address a gummy smile in the current advanced era of dentistry. The methods range from non-invasive techniques to more advanced surgeries. However, the treatment choice depends on your desired results and the severity of your gummy smile. Some of the effective gummy smile treatments include:

Orthognathic Surgery

Your dentist can recommend orthognathic (jaw) surgery if you have severe vertical maxillary excess. This procedure aims to reposition your jaw to correct the teeth' alignment and reduce the gums' display. It is a complicated surgery usually recommended for individuals with substantial skeletal problems. Several oral surgeons and orthodontists can perform it.

One or more scans will be performed in your mouth to ascertain if your jaw has grown too far. Sometimes, your dental experts can recommend braces or other orthodontic devices before recommending jaw surgery. Braces ensure your teeth and the arches in your mouth are aligned well. This procedure can cost between$20,000 and $40,000.

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a gummy smile treatment that extracts excess gum and bone tissue to reveal more teeth. Your dentist can recommend this procedure if your teeth appear too short because of an altered passive eruption. An orthodontist can perform this surgery on one or many teeth to create a more harmonious smile.

Botox Injections

Botox injections are a noninvasive treatment procedure best suited for individuals with hyperactive upper lips. After injecting Botox into the muscles that control the movement of the upper lip, the lip’s range of motion will be reduced. This procedure aims to prevent the lip from lifting too high when you smile. Unfortunately, it offers a temporary remedy because its effects can only last three to six months. The good thing about the treatment is that it is faster and less painful compared to other treatments for gummy smiles.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Injections of hyaluronic acid fillers are another way to temporarily correct a gummy smile caused by hypermobile lips. The fillers are used to limit the movement of muscle fibers in a person’s lip for a period that does not exceed eight months. Unfortunately, injecting fillers has risks. The complications are rare, but there is a possibility that:

  • A person’s immune system can react to the hyaluronic acid and form a granuloma or a nodule
  • The patient’s blood supply can be destroyed, leading to stroke, blindness, or tissue loss

Lip Repositioning Surgery

If you have a hyperactive or short upper lip, a lip repositioning procedure can be a suitable remedy. This surgery lowers the upper lip to restrict how much it moves when you smile, reducing gum exposition. It is usually performed under local anesthesia, and healing is often fast.

The cost of lip repositioning surgery varies depending on your doctor and your location. It can range between $500 and $5,000.

Gingivectomy (Gum Contouring)

Gum contouring is a minimally invasive surgery to contour or reshape excessive gum tissue. A dental surgeon uses a knife or laser to contour the gum, resulting in immediate outcomes. This procedure involves removing or cutting away excess gum tissue around the teeth. Gum contouring can also include restoring gum tissue if you have gum recession. This surgery is elective in most situations because it might not be medically necessary. It is usually performed to improve the appearance of the smile, teeth, and gums.

Even if gum contouring is mainly performed for cosmetic reasons, it can sometimes be medically necessary. It can be a treatment option if you are suffering from periodontal disease. However, your dental expert will first try to treat the gum disease using non-surgical options. Non-surgical options include using dental cleanings to restore gum health or antibiotics to kill bacteria and infections.

If non-surgical treatments fail, your dentist can save your tooth by performing pocket reduction surgery on the gums and surrounding bone. The dentist can also perform a regeneration procedure to regrow gum tissue and damaged bone.

Orthodontic Treatment

You could be a good candidate for aligners or braces if you have misaligned and over-erupted teeth. The gums are less exposed once the teeth are correctly positioned and aligned. Orthodontic treatments are also ideal for vertical maxillary excess in most situations.

Porcelain Veneers

Using veneers or crowns is another orthodontic treatment that can resolve gummy smiles' excess gum tissue appearance. This can be the best solution if you have no underlying issues causing the gummy smile. With this treatment, a crown or veneer can be placed on the teeth, offering a purely aesthetic treatment. A dental professional will place crowns or veneers on your teeth, making them appear larger and longer. In this case, your teeth will appear more proportional to your smile and gums.

Natural Treatment For A Gummy Smile

A gummy smile can be treated naturally in some situations. Apart from oral surgery or orthodontic treatment, the following are some steps you can take to prevent excessive gum exposition:

Scaling And Polishing

Poor oral hygiene can cause gum inflammation, resulting in a gummy smile. Deep cleaning, polishing, and scaling sessions can prevent gum inflammation, resulting in a smile you will not feel self-conscious about.

Using Alternative Drugs

Drugs like phenytoin can cause a gummy smile. Phenytoin can cause excessive gum tissue, also called gum hyperplasia. You can request an alternative drug from your doctor if you are experiencing this side effect.

Facial Exercise

Performing facial exercises every day, once or twice daily, can prevent a gummy smile. The exercises involved include:

  • Suck on the cheeks — you can do this exercise by making your mouth look like that of a fish and holding it for a period that does not exceed 30 seconds. This exercise helps to stretch the cheek muscles and correct the position to fix your smile.
  • Smile often — This exercise involves smiling, closing your mouth, and slightly opening it. If you do this, your mouth will cover most of the gums. Maintain this position for a while, and if your smile does not cover the gums, press the gums with your fingers.
  • Close your mouth and hold your lips for no more than ten seconds. This can enhance your lip muscles, enabling them to cover the gums.
  • You can also massage the wings of your nose along the corner of your mouth. Use your index finger to do this for no more than 30 seconds. This can correct the upper lip muscles if they raise too high.

Prevention Of A Gummy Smile

There are many ways to prevent a gummy smile, even if some contributors to a gummy smile, like genetics, cannot be changed. You should maintain good dental hygiene, mainly frequent flossing and brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. This can prevent gum inflammation and disease that can cause a gummy smile appearance. Proper oral health care can help identify and treat gum issues early on before they worsen. You should also visit your dentist regularly for expert examinations and cleanings.

Additionally, you should avoid breathing through your mouth because it makes the gums dry, causing swelling and irritation. Timely treatment for respiratory or nasal issues can help stop this behavior from compromising your gums.

Appropriate posture can also indirectly help align your jaws over time. Lousy posture usually affects how your jaws grow. Standing and sitting straight can help prevent potential alignment issues that cause a gummy smile. These preventive guidelines will give you better gums and a more balanced smile.

Habits To Avoid For A Healthier Smile

You can lower the chances of suffering a gummy smile if you avoid certain habits that can damage your gums. For example, you can gradually change the form or erode your gums if you overbrush your teeth. Dentists recommend using a mild or soft-bristled brush when brushing your teeth. Brushing your teeth with too much pressure or a hard-bristled toothbrush can wear your gum tissues down.

Smoking is also a harmful behavior that you should stop. This habit can aggravate gum disease, accentuate the visibility of your gums, and cause inflammation.

Additionally, robust and healthy gums depend on a balanced diet. A diet without essential nutrients like vitamin C can compromise gum conditions and increase your susceptibility to oral disorders. Including nutrient-defense foods can reduce oral health issues that aggravate a gummy look and support better gum development. Avoiding bad oral habits can help preserve your gums and maintain a more balanced smile.

When To See A Dentist

If you notice overly visible gum or are worried about a gummy smile, consult an orthodontist or dentist. Failing to seek treatment for a gummy smile can affect your confidence. After examining your smile, a dentist can establish the underlying problem and devise a treatment solution. If your dentist intervenes early, you will have a better smile and avoid more severe oral health issues. A professional dentist can help you achieve a better and more confident smile, whether you need surgical treatment, orthodontic adjustment, or basic preventive care.

Find an Experienced Dentist Near Me

A gummy smile is an oral condition where your smile reveals more gum than you would like. Several factors can cause these fairly common conditions. The leading causes of a gummy smile include abnormal dental eruption, hyperfunction of your upper lip, over-eruption of your maxillary anterior teeth, or a combination of several factors.

Several treatment options are available to correct a gummy smile. The standard treatment options include orthodontics, Botox injections, and oral surgery. You should contact a skilled dentist if you seek treatment for a gummy smile. A dentist will evaluate your smile and recommend the most appropriate treatment. For effective gummy smile treatment, contact the Los Angeles Advanced Dentistry. Call us at 310-361-2080 to speak to one of our dentists.