Does smiling cause your gums to show? If so, then you may have a condition known as a gummy smile. Medically, this is known as excessive gingival display, and it’s a condition that varies in severity depending on your personal perception.

Showing a bit of your gum usually isn’t a problem for most people and there are no serious medical implications as a result of it. However, you may end up showing a lot of your gum in some cases, and this can detract from your appearance and smile.

What causes a gummy smile?

A gummy smile isn’t a medical condition. However, it typically does have a few common causes. If your teeth are short and covered by your gums, then it could cause you to show more gum tissue. Similarly, your upper lip may be too short to cover your upper gums, or it might sit a little too high when you smile.

Gummy smiles are usually caused by your genetics, so it’s not something you can prevent.

Procedures that can help with a gummy smile

If the cause of your gummy smile is related to your jaw, then there are procedures that can help reduce the appearance of your gums whenever you smile. For instance, a gingivectomy can help remove excess gum tissue and there are jaw surgery options to help correct conditions like a jaw protrusion that could cause a gummy smile.

In addition, it’s possible to use Botulinum Injections to make your upper lip move less whenever you smile.

If you’re looking to treat your gummy smile, get in touch with us today to book a consultation with one of our expert doctors or aesthetics staff at Tempus Belgravia.