A gummy smile, also known as excessive gingival display, is a condition where the upper lip rises too high when smiling. This can make the upper teeth look covered in too much gum tissue and can be seen as an unattractive facial feature.
The cause of a gummy smile varies from person to person, but there are some common factors that may be responsible for its development.
One of the most common causes of a gummy smile is an abnormally short upper lip. This means that when someone smiles, their lips don’t reach their intended length before it begins to rise and show more gum than normal.
Other causes include hyperactive lip muscles or enlarged gum tissue which can give off an exaggerated appearance when smiling.
The good news is that there are treatment options available to reduce the amount of gum tissue visible while smiling.