Plaque and gingivitis
Bacteria at the gum line make the gum red, puffy and prone to bleeding. Over weeks, the swollen gum can creep up the tooth and form a soft collar.
Gum overgrowth
Gums Growing Over Teeth: Why It Happens and How It Is Treated in Dubai
Gums that creep over the teeth are usually swollen from plaque, braces or a medicine. Most improve once the cause is controlled; only some need the extra gum removed.
- Gum treatment and deep cleaning
- Laser gum contouring
- Open daily 10:00–20:00
Bring a list of the medicines you take, including doses, to the visit.
Quick answer
Why are my gums growing over my teeth?
Gums growing over teeth, called gingival enlargement, is most often inflammation from plaque, especially around braces. Some medicines for epilepsy, blood pressure or transplant care, hormonal changes and, rarely, other medical conditions can also cause it. Inflamed gum usually shrinks once cleaning improves; firm overgrowth that remains may be trimmed with a laser or scalpel. At Creative Arts in Dubai, our dentists find the cause before choosing treatment.
Who treats you here Dr. Duaa Ameen General Dentist · Dr. Taban Ameen Dentist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
Causes
What makes gums grow over teeth?
Several causes can overlap. Plaque makes almost all of them worse, which is why cleaning is always part of treatment.
Braces
Brackets and wires trap plaque and make cleaning harder, so the gum between and around the front teeth often swells during treatment.
Some medicines
Certain anticonvulsants (such as phenytoin), calcium channel blockers used for blood pressure (such as nifedipine or amlodipine) and immunosuppressants (such as ciclosporin) are linked to firm gum overgrowth.
Hormones
Puberty and pregnancy make the gums react more strongly to plaque; see our page on pregnancy gingivitis.
Mouth breathing
Gums that dry out at night, often in people who breathe through the mouth, tend to stay inflamed, especially around the upper front teeth.
With braces
Why are my gums growing over my braces?
During orthodontic treatment, plaque collects around every bracket and under the wire, often in places the brush misses. The gum reacts by swelling, and in some people that swelling becomes firmer and spreads over the tooth surface, sometimes nearly reaching the brackets. Elastic chains and teeth that are being pushed together can bunch the gum between them as well.
Better cleaning makes the biggest difference: interdental brushes under the wire, a brush angled at the gum line, and professional cleaning during treatment. Our page on teeth cleaning with braces explains how it is done around brackets. Much of the swelling usually improves after the braces come off and cleaning becomes easier, but firm, fibrous gum that has formed over months may not shrink fully and can then be trimmed once the teeth are stable.
Medicines
Can medicines cause gums growing over teeth?
Yes. Gum overgrowth is a recognised side effect of three groups of medicines: some anticonvulsants used for epilepsy, some calcium channel blockers used for blood pressure and heart conditions, and some immunosuppressants used after transplants or for autoimmune disease. A review in the Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry describes these three groups and notes that good plaque control can bring partial or complete improvement and limit severity, but cannot always prevent it.
Never stop or change a medicine yourself because of your gums. Tell your dentist what you take, and if the overgrowth is significant your dentist can write to your doctor, who decides whether an alternative is appropriate. Meanwhile, cleaning, regular hygiene visits and, if needed, removing the excess gum keep the teeth cleanable.
Treatment options
Treatment for gums growing over teeth, from simple to more involved
Most people need only the first two rows. Surgery is considered when firm overgrowth remains after the cause is controlled.
| Option | When it fits | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Better home cleaning | Every case | Brushing at the gum line, interdental brushes or floss, and advice tailored to braces if you wear them |
| Professional cleaning | Swollen, bleeding gum with plaque and tartar | Removal of plaque and tartar above and just below the gum; review after a few weeks |
| Deep cleaning | Pockets have formed between gum and tooth | Cleaning of the root surfaces under local anaesthetic, often by section of the mouth |
| Medicine review | Overgrowth linked to a medicine | Your dentist liaises with your doctor; any change is your doctor's decision |
| Gum trimming (gingivectomy) | Firm overgrowth that remains once inflammation is controlled | Excess gum removed with a dental laser or scalpel under local anaesthetic; healing over one to two weeks |
| Biopsy | A single lump, or tissue that looks unusual | A small sample sent for testing before any further treatment |
Gum trimming done while the gum is still inflamed tends to come back. The order matters: cause first, then shape.
Will it go back?
Does overgrown gum go back by itself?
Soft, red, bleeding gum that has swollen because of plaque usually shrinks within a few weeks once cleaning improves. Firm, pale or pink overgrowth that has been there for months, or that is caused by a medicine, often shrinks only partly. That is the gum that may need trimming.
Not every case of gum covering the teeth is overgrowth. Some people have always had short-looking teeth because the gum never moved back to its usual level after the teeth came through. That is a smile-line question rather than a gum disease question; our guide to gummy smile causes explains the difference, and laser gum contouring is how it is reshaped. If you do have gum removed, our guide to gum contouring recovery covers healing day by day.
When to get gum overgrowth checked promptly
Book a prompt assessment if the gum is growing quickly over weeks, bleeds without brushing, or if you also have bruising, nosebleeds, unexplained tiredness or fever; these need a medical check too. A single lump that is growing, ulcerated or bleeding should be examined. A painful swelling with pus by one tooth may be an abscess. The clinic is open daily 10:00–20:00 and is not a 24-hour service. Facial swelling with fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling spreading towards the eye or neck needs a hospital emergency department immediately.
Laser
Is laser gum trimming needed for gums growing over teeth?
Only for tissue that does not shrink once the cause is controlled. A dental laser removes gum and seals small blood vessels at the same time, so bleeding during the procedure is usually limited, and the treated gum heals over about one to two weeks. A scalpel is an equally valid option and is sometimes preferred for larger areas. Our page on laser gum treatment explains what the laser is used for and what evidence says it adds.
A lump on one spot of the gum is a different situation from general overgrowth; our guide to a lump on the gum or palate explains the common causes, and an oral biopsy is used when a lesion needs testing. Swelling around just one tooth is covered in swollen gum around one tooth.
Who treats you
Dentists who treat gum overgrowth at Creative Arts
Dr. Duaa Ameen and Dr. Taban Ameen provide gum treatment at Creative Arts, including professional and deep cleaning and laser gum treatment. They identify the cause of the overgrowth, liaise with your doctor when a medicine may be involved, and explain whether trimming is needed.
Sources
Clinical statements on this page are consistent with these independent sources. They describe averages from studies, not a promise for any one patient.
- Moffitt ML, Bencivenni D, Cohen RE. Drug-Induced Gingival Enlargement: An Overview. Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, 2013.
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Periodontal (Gum) Disease. NIDCR, National Institutes of Health, 2026.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
Why are my gums growing over my braces?
Plaque gathers around brackets and under the wire, and the gum responds by swelling. In some people the swelling becomes firm and spreads over the teeth. Cleaning with interdental brushes, angling the brush at the gum line and professional cleaning during treatment usually reduce it. Firm gum that remains after braces may be trimmed.
Can blood pressure medicine cause gums growing over teeth?
Some calcium channel blockers used for blood pressure, such as nifedipine or amlodipine, are linked to gum overgrowth, as are some epilepsy medicines and immunosuppressants. Do not stop any medicine yourself. Tell your dentist what you take; your doctor decides whether an alternative is suitable, while cleaning keeps the gum as healthy as possible.
Does overgrown gum go back by itself?
Soft, swollen gum caused by plaque usually shrinks within a few weeks once cleaning improves. Firm overgrowth that has been present for months, or that is linked to a medicine, often improves only partly and may need trimming. A dentist can tell which type you have by examining the gum and checking for pockets.
Is gum overgrowth the same as a gummy smile?
Not always. Gum overgrowth is extra gum tissue, usually from inflammation or a medicine. A gummy smile can also come from gum that never moved back after the teeth came through, a short upper lip or the way the upper jaw developed. The treatment differs, so the cause is diagnosed first.
Does laser gum trimming hurt?
It is done under local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure rather than pain during the procedure. Afterwards, the area is usually tender for a few days and is managed with over-the-counter pain relief and gentle cleaning. Most treated gum heals within about one to two weeks.
Can gums growing over teeth come back after treatment?
Yes, if the cause continues. Overgrowth linked to plaque returns if cleaning lapses, and medicine-related overgrowth can recur while the medicine is continued. Regular hygiene visits and careful home care are the main protection. Trimming is usually done only once the cause is controlled, which reduces the chance of recurrence.
When is gum swelling over the teeth a sign of something serious?
Rarely, generalised gum enlargement is linked to a blood disorder or another medical condition. Warning signs include gum that grows quickly, bleeds without brushing, or comes with bruising, nosebleeds, fever or unusual tiredness. In that situation see your doctor as well as your dentist, because blood tests may be needed.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
Gum careGum treatment in DubaiDiagnosis and treatment of gum disease and gum problems.ConditionSwollen gum around one toothCauses of a local gum swelling and what to do.ConditionLump on the gum or palateCommon lumps and when they need testing.GuideGum contouring recoveryHealing day by day after laser gum work.LaserLaser gum treatmentWhat a dental laser does for gum problems.ConditionBleeding gumsWhy gums bleed and how it is treated.
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One clinic, in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
Creative Arts has a single clinic on Jumeira Street (Jumeirah Beach Road). Ask about parking when you book.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursDaily 10:00–20:00, including Friday and Sunday
- Neighbouring areasJumeirah 1–3, Umm Suqeim 1–3, Al Wasl, Al Safa, Al Manara
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- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai · Our clinic in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
- Opening hoursClinic open daily, 10:00–20:00
- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
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