Tricks for feeling good about a “toothy” smile?

- 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.