There are many causes of gummy smile, including teeth that didn’t erupt correctly, hyperactive upper lip muscles, and improper jaw development [1]. The lips, facial muscles, teeth, and gum tissue all play a role in gummy smile, although the underlying cause of all these factors is typically genetic.

The treatment for gummy smile will depend on what’s causing it as determined by your dentist. What are some of the treatment options for this condition?

Laser Treatment

Laser treatment can help remove excess gum tissue and reshape the gumline to improve the appearance of your smile. Laster treatment is comfortable and ideal for patients who may have anxiety about visiting the dentist.

Using laser therapy for gummy smile is a great option for patients who don’t want to undergo traditional surgery to fix their smile [2]. By using a laser, recovery time tends to be much faster and the patient experiences less swelling, bleeding, and discomfort.

Your dentist may suggest laser therapy for your gummy smile if the cause is attributed to too much gum tissue covering the teeth as opposed to an additional cause such as jaw or upper lip positioning.

Surgical Options

For many patients with gummy smile, surgical options can help correct the condition as effectively as possible.

Periodontal surgery for gummy smile—also called a gingivectomy—involves removing excess gum tissue and reshaping the gumline. Your dentist may suggest a crown lengthening procedure which will expose more healthy tooth below the gumline, if this is possible.

If your gummy smile is found to be caused by hyperactive upper lip muscles, reconstructive surgery can help. During this procedure, your dentist will correct the upper lip’s position so that it doesn’t expose as much gum tissue when smiling [3].

If your jaw is found to be the cause of your gummy smile, you’ll likely need an oral surgeon to correct the position of your jaw. While this form of treatment will be the most intensive, it can result in significant improvement and will permanently correct your gummy smile.

Additional Treatments to Consider

Your dentist may suggest other forms of treatment for your gummy smile, including:

• Orthodontics.Braces or Invisalign can correct your bite to make gum tissue less visible.
  Orthodontics provide a simple, temporary, and painless treatment option for gummy
  smile if your bite is found to be the issue.
• Veneers.For people who have naturally short teeth or teeth that are worn down from
  bruxism (teeth grinding), dental veneers can make the teeth appear longer and function
  as a permanent form of treatment for gummy smile.
• Botox.Botox injections can help improve the movement of the upper lip without
  surgery; however, this is a temporary treatment that will need to be repeated every few
  months.

Regardless of what the cause of your gummy smile is, there is treatment. By visiting your dentist, you can get a comprehensive exam to determine what’s causing your gummy smile and what treatments are available to you to permanently transform your teeth and gums!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4239760/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4672859/
3. https://www.jdao-journal.org/articles/odfen/pdf/2015/01/odfen2015181p102.pdf

The post How Can Dentists Treat a “Gummy” Smile? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Due to the grooves of teeth and hard-to- reach back teeth, spots get missed and plaque can
build up. When plaque isn’t consistently removed, it can turn into tartar, where it will need to
be removed by a dentist.

The following are important places you should brush in your mouth that many people miss. Are
you missing these places? Read on to find out more!

Gums

Although our teeth are the main focus of our brushing routine, the gumline should get some
attention, too. This is where your gums meet your teeth. Most oral healthcare professionals
recommend brushing with your toothbrush head angled down at a 45-degree angle towards
the gum-line to remove any food and bacteria trapped there.

It’s essential to be gentle when brushing your teeth and gums, especially if you have gum
disease or are experiencing gum recession. Brush carefully, ensuring you clean your gumline
while still giving your teeth enough attention.

Tongue

Many people also neglect to brush their tongue as part of their regular oral care routine.
Brushing your tongue is important—but why?

Your tongue is home to bacteria just like the rest of your mouth. It can cause bad breath when
not regularly cleaned, allowing bacteria and food particles to get trapped by mucus on the
surface of your tongue.

Fortunately, brushing your tongue is simple enough and doesn’t require any additional tools
besides your regular toothbrush. Start in the back of your mouth and brush towards the front
when it comes to your tongue and rinse with water afterwards. You don’t need much pressure
to get your tongue clean with your toothbrush, so again, carefulness and consistency is the best
way!

Back Sides of Front Teeth

While many people are relatively savvy at brushing all sides of their molars, the big teeth in the
back of the mouth, the front teeth are often overlooked.

These missed areas include the back of your front bottom teeth and the back of your front top
teeth, which include your incisors, canines, and laterals. Tartar can easily build up here if you’re
consistently missing these places when you brush.

Yes, brushing behind your front teeth will require some maneuvering with your toothbrush, but
once you get into the habit of it, these places will no longer feel difficult to reach. Beware of
hidden plaque in these areas—if you can feel the fuzzy texture of plaque on the back sides of
your front teeth, be sure not to miss these places when you brush today!

Do you commonly miss these essential places in your mouth to brush? From brushing the
gumline to your tongue to the back sides of your front teeth, getting all these areas is important
for removing plaque. Remember that a professional cleaning every six months can enhance
your oral care routine and ensure you’re not missing any spots!

The post Are You Missing These Important Places When You Brush? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.