We all want the best smile possible. We want a smile demonstrating we are strong, confident, and can take on the world. But if we don’t love our smile, we don’t share it as often as we should. And that can have severe repercussions on both our personal and professional lives. Perhaps you are embarrassed about your smile because it shows too much of your gumline. If so, you may consider gum contouring to correct your gummy smile. Before long, you’ll be flashing your smile so often you’ll wonder why it took you so long to get your desired smile.

What is gum contouring?

Gum contouring is a cosmetic dentistry treatment designed to change the shape of your gums. Patients who have more gumline exposed than desired often have this procedure, where their dentist surgically removes excessive gum tissue or restores or rejuvenates receded gum tissue that is exposing more of the teeth than desired.

At The Tooth Doc, we know how important your gums are to oral health. And your gumline can tell dentists a lot about your overall health too. But that doesn’t mean we need to see as much gumline as is often exposed with a gummy smile. If you’re a patient with excessive gum tissue, we can help you change that with gum contouring. Here are some signs that gum contouring might be the solution for you.

Signs You Should Look Into Gum Contouring To Correct Your Gummy Smile 

A gummy smile is not something you have to live with, especially if it keeps you from smiling when you want to. Here are some sure signs that gum contouring might be in your future.

1. You’re embarrassed about your gums when you smile.

We alluded to this earlier, but if you refrain from smiling because you’re showing too much gumline, we want to help turn that around. Your smile is vital to your health. The very act of smiling causes your brain to release tiny molecules called neuropeptides. Other neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins come into play too. All of these natural happy chemicals work to fight off depression, reduce stress, and relieve pain. Consider the following benefits of smiling and why you should fix your smile so that you can experience them for yourself.

• Helps you live longer 
• Relieves stress
• Improves your mood
• Boosts your immune system
• It’s contagious—in a good way!
• Reduces pain
• Makes you more attractive to others 

2. You have an asymmetrical smile.

If your smile seems uneven, it may be because you have an imbalanced distribution of your gum tissue. This creates an uneven or crooked smile which gives it an asymmetrical appearance. We understand that some people’s gum tissue covers more of their teeth in some areas and less in others. But that crooked smile might also keep you from smiling. Gum contouring can help get this look evened out.

3. Your gums cover too much of your teeth.

We call it the gummy smile. You have gum tissue covering too much of your teeth, so your teeth appear smaller than they are. Though this doesn’t have any negative repercussions on your oral health, it can seriously impact your mental health. We want to help you address anything tooth-related that keeps you from feeling like smiling. And you don’t have to live with a gummy smile—we can fix it to make your teeth appear longer, with less gumline exposed.

The Benefits of Gum Contouring

We’ve discussed the benefits of smiling, but let’s also discuss why gum contouring can influence your desire to smile again.

• Aesthetic improvement: We can shape the areas where gum tissue extends lower than others, providing you a more symmetrical and straighter smile. Conversely, we can address a gumline that’s too high due to gum recession. In this case, the tissue in your gumline pulls back, exposing your tooth’s roots and making your teeth look too long. Either way, gum contouring can help.
• Regained confidence: when you know people are looking at the whole you and not your excessive gumline, you’ll find your confidence again. And positive self-confidence can pay off in your home life and at work.
• Oral health: One of the most significant benefits is that gum contouring can improve oral health. Excessive gum tissue can trap food particles, which are difficult to remove with just brushing and flossing at home and can accelerate tooth decay. Also, some patients with this condition complain of gum irritation, making them more susceptible to periodontal disease or gingivitis.

Your dentist in West Omaha can help you regain your smile with gum contouring.

If you’re not smiling because you have excessive gum tissue, we want to help you feel like smiling. Smiling makes others happy, and it’s a contagion we wish to promote. Don’t let a gummy smile keep you from smiling at others. Request a consultation with your dentist in West Omaha today. The team at The Tooth Doc will discuss your gum contouring options with you. Before you know it, you’ll be on your way to a happier and healthier you.