In this article
When your smile shows more gum than teeth, it’s easy to feel self-conscious—even if you brush and floss every day. You might avoid full smiles in photos or worry that something is “wrong,” even when your teeth are healthy.
A gummy smile, also known as excessive gingival display, is more common than most people realize. Roughly 10% of young adults have this type of smile, and it's more common in women than men.
For many, it’s simply a cosmetic concern. But sometimes it signals a deeper issue with the teeth, gums, lips, or jaw—and treatment may help both appearance and oral health. Let’s start by defining what a gummy smile actually is.
A gummy smile means that more of your upper gums show when you smile than is typically expected. Dentists call this excessive gingival display, and they generally use a guideline of 3 to 4 millimeters of visible gum above the top teeth to define it.
That said, there's no hard rule. What matters most is how you feel about your smile. In fact, some people show 1-2 millimeters of gum and still feel self-conscious, while others with more visible gum are perfectly comfortable.
Women naturally show a bit more gum than men, especially in younger years, and this often decreases with age as the lip lengthens.
Gummy smiles come in different types:
Understanding the type and cause of your gummy smile is the first step toward deciding whether to treat it—and how.
Several things can make your smile appear gummy, and they often work together. Your teeth, gums, lip movement, and jaw shape all play a role.
In many cases, your dentist will need to pinpoint which one is most responsible before recommending treatment.
If your teeth look small because your gums didn't recede as expected after the teeth erupted, more gum may be left covering the crowns.
This is known as altered passive eruption. Your teeth may be completely healthy underneath, but hidden by excess gum.
Another cause is dentoalveolar extrusion, which happens when the front teeth overerupt (sometimes to compensate for tooth wear or a deep bite), pulling the gum with them. This can make the teeth look short and the smile more gummy—even if your gums are healthy.
Sometimes, the gums themselves grow larger or thicker. This may be due to genetics, chronic inflammation, or certain medications. A condition called gingival overgrowth can happen when you're taking drugs like:
These can cause firm, fibrous gum tissue that covers more of the tooth than normal. Deep cleaning may help reduce this, but surgery is sometimes needed.
A hyperactive upper lip can lift higher than average when you smile, exposing more gum even if your teeth and gums are normal. Some people also have naturally short upper lips, which means less tissue to cover the gums.
Another common cause is vertical maxillary excess, in which the upper jaw is longer than usual. This pushes both the teeth and gum downward, making your smile look gummy even if the teeth themselves are in good shape.
These lip and jaw patterns are usually inherited, and they can’t be fixed with hygiene alone.
Fortunately, there are treatment options if they bother you. Ask your dentist which category best fits your smile—some people have more than one.
Dentists follow a step-by-step process to figure out why your smile looks gummy. That way, they can recommend the right treatment instead of a one-size-fits-all solution.
First, they’ll look at how your teeth, gums, and lips move when you smile. They might measure:
They may also take X-rays or photos from the side (called cephalometric images) to see your jaw position. This helps rule out vertical maxillary excess or other bone issues.
If gum overgrowth is suspected, a periodontal exam will be done. This includes checking gum pocket depth, inflammation, and the proximity of the gum and bone to the tooth. These details matter because healthy gums can still look excessive if they’re covering too much of the tooth crown.
You may be referred to a specialist:
This team approach helps ensure you’re not treating the symptom without solving the root cause.
Many people can reduce the look of a gummy smile without surgery. Your options depend on what’s causing the extra gum to show and how much of it there is.
Braces or clear aligners can help reposition your teeth if they’ve erupted too far or if you have a deep bite. Sometimes, small anchor screws called temporary anchorage devices (TADs) are placed in the bone to move the teeth upward gently.
This treatment can reduce gum display by a few millimeters in mild-to-moderate cases. It works best when the issue is tooth position rather than jaw shape.
If your upper lip lifts too high, Botulinum toxin (Botox) can temporarily limit its movement. Tiny injections near the nose relax the muscles that pull the lip upward. Most people see a difference in about a week, and the effect lasts 3 to 4 months.
Hyaluronic acid fillers can also add volume to the upper lip, helping it cover more gum. Results last about 6 to 18 months and can be reversed if the filler is hyaluronic acid (using hyaluronidase).
Before trying either of these, your provider should confirm that the problem is with the lip, not the gums or jaw.
Here's how these non-surgical options compare:
Ask your provider which of these makes sense for your specific smile.
If your gums are inflamed, overgrown, or simply covering too much tooth surface, gum-focused procedures can help. These treatments work directly on the soft tissue—and sometimes the bone—to improve both health and appearance.
When gums are swollen due to plaque or inflammation, a deep cleaning called scaling and root planing (SRP) is the first step. Your dentist cleans below the gumline to remove hardened plaque (tartar) and smooths the roots so your gums can reattach.
This treatment can reduce puffiness, shrink inflamed gum tissue, and, in some cases, reveal more tooth structure naturally. It’s often done before cosmetic procedures to ensure the gums are healthy.
If your gummy smile is linked to gum disease or drug-induced overgrowth, SRP may be the first step, but drug-induced gingival overgrowth often also requires addressing the medication (with the prescribing clinician) and may still require surgical treatment.
Crown lengthening is a procedure that reshapes your gums and, if needed, the bone around your teeth to expose more of the tooth’s surface. It’s often used when your teeth look short because of excess gum or because they didn’t fully erupt.
Your dentist or periodontist numbs the area with a local anesthetic and gently removes some gum and bone. This makes the teeth appear longer and more proportionate.
Why this treatment works:
Recovery usually takes weeks for early healing, but full tissue stability can take a few months. Some mild swelling or sensitivity is normal.
A gingivectomy removes excess gum tissue using a laser or scalpel. In some cases, the underlying bone may also need to be reshaped. It’s effective when the gums are thick or overgrown, provided the bone level is healthy.
This may be right for you if:
The results are visible immediately, though some swelling is normal. Gingivectomy can be done on one tooth or several across your smile line.
Once your gums are in a better position, cosmetic dentistry can help refine the final look of your smile. This step is optional, but for many people, it’s the one that brings everything together.
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that fit over the front of your teeth to improve their shape, size, and color. They’re especially helpful if your teeth still look short or square after gum reshaping.
Whitening is often done before placing veneers to ensure a uniform color or afterward to match any uncovered teeth. Many dentists also pair veneers with gum procedures for a complete smile makeover.
In some mild cases, veneers alone may slightly shift how the gums appear, but they don’t remove gum tissue.
For more pronounced gummy smiles, especially those caused by jaw size or lip movement, surgery may offer the most lasting change. These procedures are typically reserved for moderate to severe cases.
If your upper jaw is too long vertically (vertical maxillary excess), orthognathic surgery may be recommended. This procedure moves the upper jaw upward to reduce gum show and rebalance your facial proportions.
The surgery involves general anesthesia and a hospital stay. It’s often done after orthodontic prep and followed by further braces to fine-tune your bite.
Here are key facts about jaw surgery:
This is the most comprehensive fix, but also the most invasive. If your gummy smile is due to bone structure, a specialist can walk you through what to expect.
If the issue is a hyperactive upper lip, a less invasive option is lip repositioning surgery. In this outpatient procedure, your surgeon removes a strip of tissue from inside the upper lip and sutures it lower, limiting how far it rises when you smile.
Most people see a reduction of a few millimeters (results vary) in gum display, while recovery often takes 1 to 2 weeks for initial healing. Lip repositioning can be a good middle ground for those who want more than Botox but don’t need jaw surgery.
Healing after a gummy smile procedure depends on the treatment, but a few basics apply across the board.
Plan for these recovery essentials:
Most discomfort fades within about a week after minor procedures, but more extensive surgery can take longer. If you had surgery involving bone, expect several weeks for complete healing. Follow your provider’s instructions closely, and don’t hesitate to call if something feels off.
You don’t have to treat a gummy smile unless it’s affecting your health or your confidence. Many people choose not to do anything, and that’s okay. Others feel more comfortable after even a small change.
Start by asking yourself:
Costs range from around $200 for Botox to over $20,000 for jaw surgery. Most cosmetic procedures are out-of-pocket, but procedures related to health issues, such as gum overgrowth or bite correction, may be partially covered.
If you’re on the fence, a consultation can clarify what’s possible and whether small steps are enough.
If your smile feels off—or if you’ve noticed new changes in your gums—it’s a good idea to see a dentist.
Schedule an evaluation if you notice:
Start with your general dentist. They may refer you to a periodontist (gum specialist), orthodontist, or oral surgeon, depending on what’s needed.
In this article
5 min read
6 min read
5 min read
Less than a minute.
6 min read
5 min read