Gummy Smile

A smile will usually be perceived as "gummy smile" when four millimeters or more than an eighth of an inch of gum tissue shows.

Causes of a Gummy Smile

There are several possible causes of gummy smile, including:

• An excessive display of gum tissue in your upper jaw can result from the abnormal eruption of the teeth.
• Teeth covered by excessive gum tissue appear short, even though they may actually be the proper length.
• The muscle that controls the movement of your upper lip could be hyperactive, causing your upper lip to rise up higher than normal. When this occurs, more of your gum tissue is exposed when you smile.
• The manner in which your upper jaw bone grew and developed could cause the appearance of a gummy smile. For instance, if there was an excessive bulging protrusion of the upper jaw within the gum tissue, you would experience an obvious gummy appearance when you smile.

A Gummy Smile; is it An Esthetic Problem or Something More?

The teeth that are showing when you are smiling is determined by several factors, including:

• The shape and size of your lips.
• Your facial muscles.
• The shape and size of your teeth.
• Your gum tissue.

Depending on the factors causing a gummy smile, more serious underlying dental conditions could be present. For example, if you have a gummy smile caused as a result of how the teeth erupted and how the jaw developed, you may also have an uncomfortable or improper bite that could ultimately affect your long-term oral health.