What Is a Gummy Smile? Gummy smile occurs when the gums appear to droop over the teeth. The result is a smile that is somewhat obscured by the encroaching gums. It can also create an appearance of teeth that are smaller than usual. How to Fix a Gummy Smile Perform a gingivectomy. A gingivectomy treatment aims to reduce the amount of gum exposed when smiling. During this treatment, a soft tissue laser removes a minimal amount of the patient's gum tissue. ... Receive gum contouring surgery. This procedure requires local anesthetic and is a more invasive option.