Introduction: Esthetic demands can frequently bring significant challenges to practitioners. It necessitates a thorough clinical examination and documentation as well as clear communication between the patient and clinician, which is crucial for understanding treatment outcomes and expectations. Complete smile analysis is a vital component of diagnosis and treatment for effective esthetic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the layman's perceptions of the gingival component of smile esthetics utilizing the existence of a black triangle between the maxillary anterior teeth and the presence of gingival pigmentation. Objectives: To assess the layman's perception on the gingival component of smile esthetics based on gingival pigmentation and interdental papillae. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among laypersons using a self-explanatory questionnaire. Results: About 76.1% of the respondents chose the smile without the pigmentation as more attractive. In the pictures involving the black triangles, as the dimensions of the black triangle increased, the scores decreased correspondingly. Conclusion: This study showed that most of the subjects felt dark gums were unattractive and the visual display of the interdental papillae is an important smile feature that is preferred in the overwhelming majority of patients receiving treatment.