Some people find that when they smile, too much of their upper gum can be seen, giving the appearance that their teeth are very short. This is known as a “gummy” smile and can cause people to feel that their smile is unattractive, sometimes this makes them reluctant to smile at all.
The amount of gum that can be seen when you smile comes down to a number of different factors, including the size of your lips, the shape of your mouth and jaw, the size of your teeth, your facial muscles and of course, the size of your gum itself.
A “gummy” smile can be caused by a hyperactive muscle in the top lip. When we smile, the top lip elevates, revealing the teeth. However, in some people, the muscle causes the top lip to elevate too much, causing it to pull up above the gum line, revealing the gum as well.
“Gummy” Smile Treatment
A “gummy” smile can be corrected very simply with an injection of botulinum toxin. When the hyperactive muscle in the upper lip is injected with a small quantity of botulinum toxin, it relaxes, preventing the upper lip from elevating as much as it had been previously.
