White Gums

Gum Discoloration Treatments for Black Gums and White Gums

May 28th, 2015

Gum Discoloration Treatments for Black Gums and White GumsIt can be pretty alarming to wake up and notice that your gums are getting darker. After all, they’re a huge part of your smile. Gum discoloration can be a natural occurrence, or they can be a sign of serious health problems that need to be addressed immediately. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to treat your discolored or black gums and get them looking healthy again, depending on the cause. Here are a few of the most common treatment options for gum discoloration.

Treatments for Dark or Black Gums

Nothing! Love Your Gums for Their Natural Color

Some people are born with naturally darker gums than others. It’s completely normal. Gum color varies just like skin color does. If you have a darker skin tone, it’s likely you have darker gums because your body produces more melanin. You don’t need any treatment - your gums are healthy and beautiful just the way they are!

Gum Disease Therapy

If your gums suddenly get darker or turn black over time, it’s likely you have a problem. One very serious issue that causes black discoloration is acute necrotizing periodontal disease, also known as black gum disease. When you have this disease, your gum tissue becomes black as it dies, or experiences necrosis. Along with a change in color, you may notice severe pain, a foul smell and bleeding gums. If you don’t treat black gum disease, it can spread to your cartilage and then your bone. Not good.

Your dentist can treat periodontal disease with gum disease therapy. A gum disease specialist will work on fixing damage to your gum tissue, teeth and bones with surgical and/or non-surgical procedures to alleviate infection and promote gum and tooth reattachment. The exact treatment will depend on the severity of gum disease.

Ask Your Doctor For Alternative Medications

Some types of medication are known to cause gum discoloration. These include minocycline, tricyclic antidepressants and metal-based crown fillings. Though they don’t necessarily harm your gums, they can cause areas of black or grey pigmentation, which doesn’t look to great. If your gums start changing color after you begin taking new medication, speak with your doctor to find out about the medication’s side effects. If gum discoloration is a known side effect, ask your doctor about alternative medications.

Put Out Your Cigarette Once and For All

Along with increasing your risk of getting gum disease, tooth discoloration, oral cancer and many other oral problems, the chemicals in cigarettes can cause gum discoloration. The best thing you can do for your mouth, both cosmetically and for its health, is to stop smoking once and for all. And don’t think e-cigarettes are good for your mouth either. When you stop smoking and vaping, you’re helping your mouth look and feel as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

Treatments for White Gums

Thrush Treatment

If you notice white discoloration in the form of lesions on your gums, you may have thrush. Thrush is a mouth infection caused by fungus. You might run into this problem if you’re stressed, get certain illnesses or take particular medications. Your dentist will provide treatment based on your age and the cause of the thrush. Many times, your dentist will just scrape the fungus from your gums and tell you how to prevent it from regrowing in the future. They may also refer you to a doctor for further treatment.

Leukoplakia Treatment

Another cause of white patches developing on your gums is leukoplakia, a precancerous condition that usually stems from smoking or alcohol consumption. Stopping both of those activities may completely take care of the patch. If that doesn’t work, your dentist may remove the patch with a scalpel, laser or freezing methods. This can help to reduce the risk of developing mouth cancer. If you have leukoplakia, it’s important to check in with your dentist regularly so they can monitor your condition.

Experiencing gum discoloration? Come on into Water Tower Dental Care, Chicago’s #1 general and cosmetic dentist! Our friendly staff will take a look at your gums to find out the cause of the change in color and the best treatment to fix it. You can meet our doctors before you come in here!

Gum Discoloration: What Causes Gums to Turn Black or White?

October 23rd, 2014

Gum Discoloration: What Causes Gums to Turn Black or White?When you think of a great set of teeth and gums, you probably imagine pearly white teeth and healthy pink gums. So if you happen to notice that your gums have turned black, grey, or white, you may be quite concerned. While some gum discoloration is a natural occurrence, other discoloration can be hazardous to your health and require serious attention. Here are the main causes of and reasons for gum discoloration.

Naturally Darker Gums

A natural reason that a person may have darker gums that are black or dark brown is skin pigment balance. Just as skin color can vary, so can gum color. For some people, often of non-Caucasian descent, gums can have spotted darkness or may not be pink at all. This is due to the increase of melanin production in the body and is as normal as the skin of one person being darker than the skin of another’s.

Cigarettes and Medication

Some people may have discolored gums from smoking cigarettes or taking certain medications such as minocycline, tricyclic antidepressants, or metal-based crown fillings. If you notice gum discoloration after you start taking a new medication, consult your doctor for possible alternatives.

Disease & Conditions

[caption id="attachment_1740" align="alignright" width="200"]Naturally darker pigment gum tissue Naturally darker pigment gum tissue[/caption]
There are also other reasons for gum discoloration that cause a higher concern. First is acute necrotizing periodontal disease, also referred to as black gum disease. This black discoloration of the gums is due to dead tissue, or necrosis. This is a serious health issue, with symptoms that can also include bleeding gums, strong pain, and a foul smelling mouth. Along with improper oral care, the causes of this disease can include stress, smoking, viral infections, and HIV. If left untreated, the disease can spread to your cartilage and then bone, causing very serious health concerns. You can treat acute necrotizing periodontal disease with antibiotics or by surgically removing the dead tissue. Click here to see how we treat severe gum disease, or periodontitis, at Water Tower Dental Care in Chicago.
Another condition that can make your gums appear gray in color is acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. This condition creates a gray film that builds up on top of the gums. This is caused by poor dental hygiene, but is rarely seen today. The disease was often referred to as “trench mouth,” because World War I soldiers would often contract the disease after not taking care of their mouth for weeks at a time.

Conditions That Cause White Gums

White gums can be caused by several things. The first being what is called thrush, a fungal infection of the mouth. To treat this, you can contact your dentist, who will scrape off the fungus from areas of the gums and give you proper instructions on how to keep the fungus from returning.
Another cause of white gums is a condition known as leukoplakia, a precancerous condition that often occurs due to tobacco or alcohol. This condition also calls for a dentist to be consulted to take steps to prevent any further damage.

How to Battle Gum Discoloration

Of course, the best way to battle gum discoloration is by practicing proper oral care and brushing and flossing everyday along with visiting a dentist once every six months. If you have any more questions about gum discoloration, do not hesitate to contact Water Tower Dental, Chicago's #1 rated dentistry, or request an appointment by clicking on the green button at the top of the page. We can help you identify what is causing your gum discoloration to put your mind at ease. We're also experts at treating gum disease with both surgical and non-surgical techniques.