Everyone wants to achieve a perfect set of teeth to pull off a gorgeous smile.
However, while people do put in the effort to get their teeth checked and pay attention to their cleanliness.
Do you know that the teeth aren’t the only aspect of your mouth that needs your attention, but your gums do too?
There are many gum-related conditions that people come across; however, one condition commonly cannot comprehend or expect to be a problem is a condition called “gummy smiles.”
Want to know what it is and how you can fix it? Well, hop on below.
What are Gummy Smiles?
A gummy smile – also called gingival display, is a condition in which more than an adequate proportion of gums above your upper teeth are displayed.
The condition is a natural phenomenon and can be observed physically too.
Seeing a set of gums that seem largely on display more than normal can be termed a gummy smile. However, there is an adequate number that describes the condition too.
People with gums with more than 4 millimeters of tissue can be deemed as those with a gummy smile.
While, like many conditions, this phenomenon is a birth condition and very natural, some people feel insecure about their smiles while others gracefully accept their flaws and learn to shine with them.
If you are someone who has a gummy smile and is searching for options to get it treated, then you have come to the right place.
Below are all the causes of why a gummy smile can occur and what you do to treat it.
What are the Causes of Gummy Smiles?
While a natural phenomenon, certain conditions can be a reason for someone to develop a gummy smile. Want to know what they are?
Hop on below.
1. Tooth issues
Small teeth are one main tooth issue that can lead to a gummy smile.
Small teeth can either be a natural phenomenon or can be caused due to factors like being worn down.
The issue with small teeth is that with the teeth being small, the gums have a larger space to grow, and small teeth already make the gums look more prominent than usual.
2. Gum Issues
Gums can grow over the teeth because of bad breathing, not taking care of oral hygiene, or certain medications.
The gums overgrow the teeth, hiding some underneath them, and start looking very large on the surface.
3. Lip issues
Hyperactive lips – muscles that control lip movement are strong and tend to lead to gummy smiles.
This specific condition can pull the lip far more up than usual when smiling, revealing a lot more gum than usual.
While hyperactive lips tend to move the lips up, there is a condition in which people have smaller lips too.
Hence, in this, the smaller lips tend to show more teeth and gums because of their small size,
4. Jaw Issues
One of the most common causes of people having a gummy smile is the jaw issue. Some people tend to have jaws longer than average, which is not adequate compared to the size of the face and lip muscle.
Therefore, the jaw cannot hide the teeth and gum properly, leading to a more average gummy smile.
The Treatment Methods to Fix Gummy Smiles
While gummy smiles do occur naturally, it doesn’t mean that you cannot fix gummy smiles.
There are several treatment methods which you can opt to fix a gummy smile, some of which are:
1. Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatments work wonders to fix gummy teeth because of certain tooth conditions.
Dentists can restore braces to help push teeth back to their optimal position. Once the teeth are back in place, your dentist might advise you to go for a veneer or crown to maintain the structure of the teeth again.
2. Gingivectomy - Gum Lift
If overgrown gums cause your gummy smile, then gingivectomy might be the best treatment for your gums.
The treatment includes using a laser to reduce and reshape your gums to shorten their height and give them more symmetry.
The procedure is a simple treatment option and can be done in one sitting on the dental chair.
3. Teeth Cleaning
Gums can expand or swell because of an unclean environment and not properly taking care of your teeth.
Cleaning your teeth by a professional is one of the best methods to reduce the swelling and bring your teeth back into their original shape.
4. Jaw Surgery
If the gummy smile is because your jaw is too large, your dentist might suggest you get professional surgery done. The surgery is known the Orthognathic surgery.
The surgery includes moving the jaw slightly upwards and can quickly fix gummy smiles.
5. Lip Surgery
The hyperactive or hypermobile lip can be fixed by a permanent surgery, while shorter lips have other treatment options through which you can select gummy lips easily.
The procedure is performed by an oral surgeon and is not harmful. Hence, you can consult your dentists regarding whether you should go for this surgery or not.Which Among the Top Treatments Options Should You Pick?
As mentioned above, gummy smiles can be caused by many different reasons, and among the many treatment options, you should choose the one that suits your condition best.
To understand what treatment would work the best for you, consulting your dentists on the matter would be the perfect approach. As professionals, they can guide you on the subject more.Conclusion
If you are someone who wants to fix gummy smiles, then we hope this article was sufficient for you.
We tried to cover everything from the causes to the many treatment options you can choose.
So, we hope your smile, which is still gorgeous, can be treated and become even more beautiful.