Some people naturally have a gummy smile (known as excessive gingival display), which is when a considerable amount of gum tissue is visible when they smile. While their gum-to-tooth ratio may be caused by an existing dental condition, for many people it's simply the natural appearance of their smile, and it has essentially always been that way. But what about when your gums slowly but surely seem to be becoming more prominent, and not necessarily evenly either? This can be a sign of hereditary gingival fibromatosis and should be investigated by your dentist.
Runs in the Family
Since hereditary gingival fibromatosis is, well, hereditary, there's nothing you could have done to prevent it. You may wish to ask your parents if the condition runs in your family. It's an enlargement of your gingival tissues, although they don't uniformly grow in size. They're likely to increase unevenly, protruding in places, and as the condition progresses, the gums seemingly become deformed.
The Expansion of Your Gums
As your gums begin their overgrowth, there's unlikely to be any discomfort. This may change as the inflammation begins to exert pressure on surrounding tissues, but this shouldn't be severe at first. The condition is classified as nonhemorrhagic, so there won't be any bleeding. Your gums simply unevenly expand in size. It can be quite alarming to observe, but the condition rarely causes any significant complications unless treatment is delayed. Ignoring hereditary gingival fibromatosis poses the risk of discomfort and gum disease, and the functionality of your mouth may become compromised—with the sheer size of your gingival tissues making oral hygiene difficult.
Removal of Excess Gingival Tissue
In some respects, the issues associated with early hereditary gingival fibromatosis are cosmetic, and there are several dental services that can restore your gums to their standard size and appearance. This involves a gingivectomy, which is the removal of this excess gum tissue. This can be performed manually (with a scalpel), or with a laser. It will result in minor, temporary discomfort. But when your gingival tissues heal, they will be restored to their former selves. You may need to repeat the gingivectomy at some point if the condition returns, but this is an issue for the future and isn't an immediate concern.
So if your gums should begin to expand in a curious and uneven way, please see your dentist. When it comes to hereditary gingival fibromatosis, prompt dental services are extremely wise.
