Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Singular of gums?

This is topic Singular of gums? in forum Grist for the Mill at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :

If someone smiled in such a way that you could only see their upper teeth and the pink flesh above them, would that be their top gums or their top gum?

Posted by Disgruntled Peony (Member # 10416) on :

According to my dictionary app, the singular of 'gums' is in fact 'gum'. It just sounds incredibly weird because of how much more often it's pluralized in this context.

Posted by Grumpy old guy (Member # 9922) on :

DP is correct according to my concise dictionary. Gum: the pinkish fleshy bit your teeth seem to grow out of. Pl: gums.

Phil. [Smile]

Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :

Gingiva and plural gingivae!? The upper gum or gums is the maxilla gingiva. Works if the persona who expresses this is a dentist or doctor or dental practitioner or dentophile.