A gummy smile, or excessive gingival display, is when too much of the upper gum is shown when you smile or laugh. Clients with a gummy smile often report that they cover their mouth when they laugh or always smile with their mouth closed due to how self-conscious their gummy smile can make them feel. The cause of a gummy smile of often a hyperactive muscle which pulls the upper lip excessively and therefore exposes the upper gum.  Fortunately, most gummy smiles can be corrected by reducing the activity of this hyperactive muscle with the use of botulinum toxin.