Tricks for feeling good about a “toothy” smile?

I get where you’re coming from - my smile’s always been more “gum than teeth” too, and I spent years trying to hide it in family photos. What helped me most was shifting my focus off the gums and onto the joy behind the smile... sounds cheesy, but it worked. I also started tilting my chin down just a bit for pictures, which made a surprising difference. At some point, I realized the people who love me never seemed to notice or care about my gums - they just liked seeing me happy. It’s taken time, but now I actually like seeing those big, genuine smiles in old photos.

I totally get the whole “gum vs. teeth” dilemma - honestly, I used to overthink it too, especially when someone would whip out their phone for group selfies. I got a bit nerdy about it and started messing with camera angles and lighting (portrait mode is a game changer). Tilting my head or adjusting the light made a bigger difference than I expected. But at the end of the day, the candid shots where I’m genuinely laughing are always my favorites... even if the gums are front and center. Funny how tech tweaks can help, but authenticity wins out.

I get hung up on this too, especially after my dentist pointed out how much gum shows when I smile. I’ve tried doing the “closed-mouth” smile, but honestly, it just feels awkward. Looking back at photos, the ones where I’m actually laughing - even if my gums are showing - always look way more natural. I guess overthinking it makes me look stiff anyway. Funny how that works.

I’ve tried doing the “closed-mouth” smile, but honestly, it just feels awkward. Looking back at photos, the ones where I’m actually laughing - even if my gums are showing - always look way ...

I relate a lot to this - my gums show when I smile, and I used to obsess over it in group photos. I’ve noticed that if I focus on enjoying the moment instead of how I look, my smile feels less forced and I end up liking the pictures more. Sometimes tilting my head slightly helps too, but honestly, the biggest shift was just realizing most people don’t even notice what I’m stressing about. It’s tough, but self-acceptance goes a long way.

I really struggle with this too. I always feel like my smile is too “big” and it makes me super self-conscious, especially when I see pictures later. Even though people say not to worry, it’s hard to just switch that off. I get anxious about even being in group photos because I’m worried everyone will notice how much gum is showing.

You mentioned tilting your head, which I’ve tried, but sometimes I feel like I look kind of awkward or like I’m trying too hard. Does anyone else feel like certain lighting or camera angles make it worse? I swear, sometimes I’ll see a photo and it’s not bad at all, but other times it’s all I can focus on.

Has anyone actually talked to their dentist about this? I keep wondering if it’s something I should bring up, or if it’s just me overthinking. I know self-acceptance is important, but it’s tough when you’re stuck in your own head about it.

Has anyone actually talked to their dentist about this? I keep wondering if it’s something I should bring up, or if it’s just me overthinking.

Honestly, I’ve thought about asking my dentist too, but then I remember the price tag on anything cosmetic and suddenly my “big” smile doesn’t seem so bad. I totally get the self-conscious thing though - I used to dread group photos because all I could see was gum. It’s wild how lighting can make or break a picture. Sometimes I look at a photo and think, “Wait, is that even me?” Other times it’s like my gums are having their own party.

I know people say “just own it,” but that’s way easier said than done. Still, every time I see celebrities with big toothy grins (Julia Roberts comes to mind), I try to remind myself it’s not as huge a deal as my brain makes it out to be. If you do end up talking to your dentist, maybe ask if there are any low-cost tricks - mine once suggested just practicing different smiles in the mirror (awkward at first, but kind of helps). In the meantime, you’re definitely not alone in this weird photo struggle.

I’ve definitely brought this up with my dentist before, and honestly, it was a little awkward at first. I remember just blurting out, “Why do my gums show so much when I smile?” and bracing myself for some complicated (and expensive) explanation. Turns out, a lot of it just comes down to genetics and the way your lips move when you smile. My dentist did mention there are procedures for it - like gum contouring or even Botox in some cases - but as soon as we started talking numbers, I realized it wasn’t something I wanted to jump into lightly.

One thing I learned is that dentists see this stuff all the time. They’re not judging - they just lay out your options. Mine actually showed me how changing the angle of your face in photos can make a huge difference. Sounds silly, but next time you’re about to take a picture, try tilting your head down just a bit or smiling softer (not the full-on toothy grin). It’s weird how much it changes what shows up in the photo.

I get being self-conscious, though. For years, I’d cover my mouth when laughing or talking in groups because I thought everyone was staring at my gums. Looking back now, nobody else cared - people are usually too focused on their own insecurities. But if it really bothers you, no harm in asking your dentist what’s possible within your budget. Sometimes they have ideas that aren’t as pricey as you think - my hygienist suggested whitening strips just to boost my confidence a bit, and honestly that helped more than I expected.

Mirror practice sounds goofy but it actually works after a while. You start figuring out what looks natural for you instead of forcing yourself to smile like someone else. Also, not sure if this is helpful, but switching up lipstick shades (if that’s your thing) can draw attention away from gums and toward teeth.

At the end of the day, I’m still not thrilled every time I see an “all gums” photo of myself… but it doesn’t bug me nearly as much as it used to. Most people are way less critical than we are of ourselves anyway.

That’s interesting about the photo angles - never actually thought about that before. I’ve always just tried to “smile less” in group pics, but it honestly ends up looking forced or awkward. The mirror practice idea is new to me too... kind of feels silly, but maybe it’s worth a shot if it helps you get used to how you look.

I’m curious about the whitening strips thing - did you notice a big difference in how you felt, or was it more just a small boost? I’ve wondered if making my teeth look brighter would distract from my gums, but I’m not sure if it’d just make everything stand out more. Also, did your dentist mention if the gum contouring or Botox was permanent, or would it need to be redone every so often? I’m a little wary of jumping into something expensive that doesn’t last.

Honestly, I’ve thought about bringing it up again at my next appointment, but I always chicken out because I assume they’ll try to upsell me on stuff. Did you feel any pressure, or was it just a casual conversation? I get that most people probably don’t notice as much as I do, but it bugs me enough that I keep thinking about it. Would love to know if anyone here actually went through with one of the procedures and if it was worth it in the end.

Weirdly enough, my kid’s dentist actually brought up the gum thing before I got a chance to (I was too nervous, honestly). They said the Botox isn’t permanent - maybe 3-4 months? Gum contouring lasts longer but sounded kind of intense. I’m super cautious about anything that needs redoing, especially for a teen. Whitening strips helped my daughter feel a bit more confident, but honestly, it’s a small boost. I totally get being anxious about the upsell too... I always worry they’ll suggest stuff we don’t really need.

- My daughter’s got a “gummy” smile too, and honestly, I’ve never really noticed it until she started worrying about it. I get what you mean about the constant upsell at the dentist… sometimes it feels like they’re running down a checklist of procedures.

- We skipped the Botox/gum contouring route - just felt like a lot for a teen, especially since she’s still growing and her smile’s probably going to change anyway.

- Whitening strips gave her a little boost, but she actually felt better after we found some makeup tricks (like a bold lipstick that makes her teeth look whiter). Not a permanent fix, but it helped her confidence.

- Also, we tried focusing on things she likes about her smile - she’s got super straight teeth, so we played that up. It’s easy to get stuck on what’s “wrong,” but a little perspective shift helps.

- Honestly, most people don’t notice the gums as much as we think they do. I spent years hating my own smile, and now I wish I’d chilled out about it sooner.

Honestly, most people don’t notice the gums as much as we think they do. I spent years hating my own smile, and now I wish I’d chilled out about it sooner.

That really resonates. I see so many teens (and adults) hyper-focused on their gums or teeth shape, but when you step back, it’s usually not what others see first. My own niece was convinced her smile was “too toothy” for a while - she tried every trick in the book, from different lip colors to practicing a “smaller” smile in photos. Eventually, she realized her friends loved her laugh and energy more than anything else.

And honestly, the idea of skipping procedures for a teen makes sense to me. Smiles change so much during those years... sometimes it’s just about riding it out and building confidence along the way.

I used to be really self-conscious about my smile, too - mine’s always been on the “gummier” side. When I was younger, I’d do that thing where you try to cover your mouth when you laugh or only half-smile in photos. Looking back, it feels a bit silly, but at the time it was a real worry.

Here’s what helped me: First, I just started paying attention to how much I noticed other people’s teeth or gums. Turns out, I barely noticed at all unless someone pointed it out. That realization took some pressure off. Second, I practiced smiling in the mirror - not to hide anything, but just to get comfortable with my own face as it is. Sounds cheesy, but after a while it stopped feeling awkward.

Honestly, over the years my gums have receded a bit (not ideal for other reasons), and now I kind of miss my old “toothy” grin. Funny how perspective changes. If I could go back, I’d tell myself to enjoy my smile more and stress less about what others might think.

I get what you’re saying about not noticing other people’s smiles, but honestly, I always clock a good, toothy grin - maybe I’m just weirdly obsessed with teeth? Also, practicing in the mirror never worked for me. I just ended up making faces at myself and laughing. For me, it was more about finding a dentist who didn’t make me feel self-conscious and actually explained what was going on with my gums. That helped way more than any mirror pep talk.

Also, practicing in the mirror never worked for me. I just ended up making faces at myself and laughing.

That cracked me up, because I did the exact same thing. I tried the whole “practice your smile in the mirror” thing after my braces came off, thinking it would help me get used to showing my teeth. Instead, I ended up pulling the weirdest faces and then just cracking up. Not super helpful for confidence, but at least it lightened the mood.

But I do have to say, I sort of disagree about not getting anything from the mirror trick. For me, it wasn’t about perfecting the smile or anything, but more about getting comfortable seeing myself with my teeth out. I’d spent years hiding them, so just getting used to the look - even if I was making goofy faces - helped a bit. It was like, “Okay, this is what I actually look like when I’m not overthinking it.” I think it’s less about practicing the “perfect” smile and more about making peace with your own face, if that makes sense.

Totally agree, though, that a good dentist makes a world of difference. I had one who’d always point out the progress I’d made, even if it was tiny, and it just made me feel less like I was being judged. It’s wild how much that matters. The first dentist I saw as a teen was super clinical and never explained anything, and I left every appointment feeling worse. Later on, I switched to someone who actually listened and gave me the rundown on what was happening with my gums and teeth. That alone made me feel like I had some control, and honestly, my smile got a lot less self-conscious after that.

Still, I think there’s a place for the mirror - even if it’s just for a laugh. Sometimes you need to see yourself being silly before you can see yourself being confident.

Can relate about the mirror thing turning into a comedy routine. I remember trying to practice my smile before my daughter’s wedding, thinking I’d finally get comfortable with my “new” teeth (dentures, in my case). Instead, I ended up pulling faces and then just giving up and laughing at myself. Guess it’s better than stressing out about it.

I used to think the mirror was pointless, but over time I started using it more like a check-in - just to see if I looked like myself or if something was off. It didn’t fix my nerves, but it made me realize nobody else is inspecting my smile as closely as I am. Funny how we’re our own worst critics.

And 100% agree about dentists - having someone who actually talks to you like a person makes all the difference. My last dentist would always say, “You’ve come a long way,” even if it was just a tiny improvement. That helped me focus less on what I didn’t like and more on just living with my smile.

I guess the trick for me has been not taking it so seriously. If I can laugh at myself in the mirror, maybe that’s progress in its own way.

The mirror thing is so real. I keep thinking if I practice enough, maybe I’ll “fix” my smile, but mostly I just end up making weird faces and feeling more awkward. The self-critique spiral is tough - like you said, nobody else is zooming in on our teeth the way we do. It helps to hear that even people with dentures or other changes go through this too. I’m still working on not overanalyzing every little thing, but laughing at myself definitely takes the edge off. Maybe that’s progress?

I totally get what you mean about the mirror thing. I’ve caught myself making faces in the bathroom, trying to “train” my smile, but honestly, it just makes me feel more self-conscious sometimes. It’s wild how much we zoom in on stuff no one else notices. My sister has a pretty big gap between her front teeth and she used to cover her mouth when she laughed, but now she just owns it and I swear people think it’s cute.

Have you ever tried focusing less on the actual look and more on how you feel when you smile? Like, thinking about something funny or happy instead of whether your teeth are showing too much? I read somewhere that genuine smiles - like the ones that crinkle your eyes - are what people remember anyway. Maybe the trick is to care less about “fixing” it and more about enjoying those moments. Laughing at yourself definitely sounds like progress to me... at least it takes some pressure off, right?

I used to obsess over my “gummy” smile in every single photo - zooming in like some kind of forensic investigator. Eventually, I realized nobody else cared, and honestly, the people who did notice just remembered that I was having a good time. I swear, the best smiles are the ones where you’re actually cracking up at something dumb. My dentist once told me, “If your teeth are healthy, show them off.” Not exactly poetic but it stuck with me.

“I used to obsess over my ‘gummy’ smile in every single photo - zooming in like some kind of forensic investigator.”

I relate to this way too much. I spent years analyzing every picture, picking apart the angle of my lips and how much gum showed. Got braces in my late 20s mostly because I thought it would “fix” my smile. Honestly, it changed a few things, but I still see the same basic smile in the mirror.

What’s weird is that after all the orthodontic work, I started paying more attention to how people’s faces light up when they’re genuinely laughing. The “imperfections” aren’t what stand out at all. I do still catch myself doing the closed-mouth thing sometimes out of habit, but if my teeth are healthy and clean, I try to just let it go.

One thing that helped me was seeing progress pics during treatment - noticing small improvements and focusing on health over appearance. If anything, the detail-oriented part of me appreciates how much work goes into a real smile, even if it’s not “perfect.”