I get what you mean about the pressure coming more from adults. My mom was always quick to point out “flaws” in family photos—meanwhile, I just wanted to get back to my Game Boy. Funny thing is, now I barely notice anyone’s gums unless they mention it. Dental tech is wild, but unless there’s an actual health issue, I’d rather spend that money on a new laptop than gum surgery. Smiles are supposed to look real, not airbrushed, right?
I get where you’re coming from. I used to obsess over my “gummy” smile after my braces came off, especially since my aunt would always comment on it at family stuff. But honestly, after a while, I just stopped caring unless someone pointed it out. Curious—did you ever feel like your orthodontic treatment made you more aware of your gums, or did it not really change things for you?
Honestly, after braces, it’s like you suddenly notice your gums in every selfie—like, were they always this obvious? But here’s the funny part: most people are too busy worrying about their own teeth to care. Did your orthodontist mention anything about gum contouring, or was it just “here’s your retainer, good luck”?
Haha, I totally get that—after my braces came off, I swear my gums looked like they were auditioning for a toothpaste commercial. My ortho was all business: “Here’s your retainer, wear it or else.” Not a peep about gum contouring. I did end up googling it though, and honestly, half the time I think it’s just me overanalyzing selfies. Did you ever try smiling differently to see if it made a difference in pics, or is that just me being extra?
I actually keep thinking about this exact thing. After I got my braces off, I was so hyped to finally smile without metal, but then I noticed my gums looked way more obvious than I remembered. I started messing around with my smile in the mirror, trying to see if tilting my head or smiling less wide would make my gums show less. Sometimes I feel like I’m just being super self-critical, but then I see a photo and it’s like, wow, my gums are really out there.
Did you ever feel like your ortho just didn’t care about the “after” part? Mine was all about the straight teeth, but never mentioned what happens if you’re not happy with how your gums look. I’ve read about gum contouring too, but honestly, it sounds kind of intense and I’m not sure if it’s really necessary or just something people do because they’re self-conscious.
Do you ever worry that people actually notice your gums, or is it mostly just you? I keep asking my friends and they all say they don’t see anything weird, but I’m not sure if they’re just being nice. I even tried smiling with my lips more closed in pictures, but then I feel like I look awkward or fake.
Is there a point where you just get used to it and stop thinking about it? Or is it always in the back of your mind? I keep wondering if I’ll ever get to that “I don’t care” stage, or if I’ll always be checking my smile in every selfie.