Mother Worried About Her Daughter's Gummy Smile: A Parent's Guide to Options and Perspective

A Real Mom's Question About Her Daughter's Smile

Sheela asks: "My daughter is 17 and has what I think is called a 'gummy smile' - her gums are very visible when she laughs. While I think she's beautiful, she's mentioned feeling uncomfortable about it. What options are available to address this?"

My Response:

As a parent, it's natural to want your child to feel confident and happy. When your teenager starts feeling self-conscious about their smile, it can be heartbreaking to watch. The good news is that you have options - both in terms of treatments and in how you approach this sensitive topic with your daughter.

Why Some People Have More Visible Gums

First, let's talk about why this happens. Everyone's face is unique, and gum visibility when smiling depends on several things that are completely normal variations:

Your daughter might have naturally shorter lips, which means more of her gums show when she smiles broadly. Or maybe her upper jaw sits a bit higher, her cheekbones are positioned differently, or her facial muscles pull her lips up more than average when she laughs. Sometimes it's just the way someone's teeth and gums are positioned.

The thing is, none of this is "wrong" - it's just how she's built. But I understand that knowing this doesn't necessarily make your daughter feel better about it right now.

Here's Something That Might Surprise You

Sometimes these things actually improve naturally as kids grow into their adult faces. Facial proportions can shift slightly as teenagers mature, and what seems prominent at 17 might be less noticeable at 25. That doesn't mean you should just wait and hope, but it's worth knowing that faces continue changing into our twenties.

What Can Actually Be Done About It

If your daughter really wants to address this, there are several effective treatments available. Modern dentistry has come a long way, and correcting a gummy smile is actually pretty routine now.

Laser Treatment - The Popular Choice

Most dentists who specialize in cosmetic dentistry will probably mention laser treatment first. It sounds scary, but it's actually quite gentle. The laser precisely reshapes the gum line, and most people say it's not painful - maybe a bit uncomfortable, but nothing like traditional surgery.

The best part? Healing is pretty quick, which is great for a busy teenager. She could potentially have this done during a school break and be back to normal activities fairly soon.

Crown Lengthening - The Traditional Approach

This is basically making the teeth look longer by adjusting where the gum line sits. It's been around longer than laser treatment, so there's lots of experience with it. The results are permanent, which some people prefer.

Botox - Yes, Really!

This one might sound weird, but hear me out. Some dentists now use tiny amounts of Botox to relax the muscles that lift the upper lip. It's not about wrinkles - it's about stopping the lip from pulling up so much when she smiles.

There was actually a study published in a medical journal about this. They treated someone who had a gummy smile and didn't want surgery or braces. Two weeks later, the results were great, no side effects, and the person felt much more confident. The effects lasted about six months.

What's nice about this option is that it's temporary, so if your daughter isn't sure about permanent changes, she could try this first.

Getting the Whole Smile Looking Great

Some cosmetic dentists take a comprehensive approach. They might suggest whitening her teeth at the same time, or addressing any other concerns she has about her smile. Sometimes fixing one thing makes everything look more balanced.

The Bigger Picture - And This Is Important

While we're talking about treatments, I want to share something that might be even more valuable than any procedure.

Your daughter is 17. This is the age when so many kids become hyper-aware of anything that makes them feel different. Social media doesn't help - everyone's comparing themselves to filtered, perfectly posed photos that aren't even real.

But here's what I've noticed as someone who's worked with many families dealing with these concerns: the kids who do best long-term aren't necessarily the ones who get cosmetic procedures. They're the ones whose parents help them build genuine confidence in who they are as people.

What You Can Do as Her Mom

Don't make a big deal about her appearance, even though I know you want to help. The more we focus on what's "wrong" with how someone looks, the more important it becomes in their mind.

Instead, notice and praise the things she's good at. Is she funny? Kind to her friends? Great at math? Talented at art? Those are the things that will matter in her life - far more than whether her gums show when she laughs.

And please, encourage her to keep laughing freely. There's nothing more beautiful than genuine joy, and if you start teaching her to hide her natural expressions, you're taking away something precious.

Some Perspective That Might Help

Think about the people you admire most - friends, family members, public figures, whoever. I bet if you really think about it, many of them don't have "perfect" smiles. But they're confident, they laugh openly, and that confidence is what makes them attractive.

Some of the most charismatic people in the world have distinctive smiles. They've learned that authenticity beats perfection every time.

I actually wrote about a similar situation before - about a girl worried about her "ugly" smile. The core message was the same: genuine confidence and self-acceptance matter so much more than having a supposedly "perfect" smile.

Making the Decision Together

If your daughter is genuinely bothered by this and asking for help, then exploring treatment options makes sense. Schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist who has experience with teenagers. They can explain what's realistic, what the recovery would be like, and help you both understand the options.

But make sure the decision comes from her, not from pressure to fix something that might not even need fixing.

What Matters Most

Whether you decide to pursue gummy smile treatment or not, the most important thing is raising a daughter who values herself for more than her appearance. Help her understand that confidence comes from being comfortable in her own skin, developing her talents, and building meaningful relationships.

The goal isn't a perfect smile - it's a happy, confident young woman who knows her worth isn't tied to how she looks.

If you do decide to explore treatment options like laser gum contouring or other procedures, that's perfectly fine too. Just make sure it's part of building her confidence, not the whole solution.

Your love and support matter far more than any cosmetic procedure ever could. Keep reminding her how beautiful she is - gums and all.

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References and Further Reading:

1. Girl Worried About Ugly Smile - Beauty and Grooming Tips
   https://www.beautyandgroomingtips.com/2018/01/girl-worried-about-ugly-smile.html
2. Botulinum toxin for gummy smile treatment - PubMed Study
   Research on Botox effectiveness for excessive gingival display treatment
3. American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
   Professional resources for cosmetic dental procedures and gummy smile correction
4. Laser Gum Contouring Information - Dental Professional Resources
   Clinical guidelines for laser-assisted gum reshaping procedures

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If you're considering treatment options, look for a cosmetic dentist who specializes in working with teenagers and takes a conservative, patient-focused approach.