An uneven gumline can affect the appearance of your teeth, even if they're straight. Too much or too little gum tissue makes teeth look smaller or larger, depending on the person. Some people will have this issue their whole lives, while others may develop it later in life.
What can be done to treat an uneven gumline? Dr. Mojgan Mazhari of Alexandria Dental Health & Smile Studio explains what causes this irregularity and what approaches work best.
What Causes an Uneven Gumline?
There are many reasons for a crooked gumline including, but not limited to:
- Gum disease
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy
- Misaligned teeth
- Vigorous brushing
- Genetics
Dentists customize treatment based on the specific cause.
An Alexandria, Virginia, Dentist Explains What Can Be Done to Treat an Uneven Gumline
Your first step is to schedule an appointment with an oral health care provider who can assess your condition. Here are some of the most common solutions to correct irregular gum tissue.
Receding Gums
“This is when you may see areas where the gums appear to pull back from the teeth, giving some teeth a longer appearance and exposing tooth roots,” Dr. Mazhari states in this article. Gum disease is usually the cause of receding gums, but brushing your teeth too aggressively or smoking and tobacco use are problems, too.
“If your gum recession is the result of advanced gum disease, you may need a gum graft to repair missing gum tissue,” she adds.
Excessive Gum Tissue
Dr. Mazhari says when gum tissue covers too much of the teeth, it’s sometimes referred to as a “gummy smile.” “Gummy smiles could also be caused by the muscles in the upper lip exposing too much gum tissue when smiling, in which case, dental treatment may not be appropriate,” she adds.
This condition usually doesn’t affect oral health, but “can be treated with a cosmetic procedure called gingival contouring, or gum contouring, which can be done with a laser to essentially reshape the gum tissue to permanently improve the uneven appearance,” she says.
Genetics
If an uneven gumline is a genetic condition, gum reshaping is usually the best treatment option. “However, this form of cosmetic gum surgery requires that you treat any underlying issues beforehand—for instance, if you have a mild form of gum disease, it’ll need to be addressed before the procedure,” Dr. Mazhari says.