Gum coloration (pigmentation)

Pink, red, brown, and black gums are considered to be healthy as long as they are the natural colours of your gums. As gum colours differ from person to person, there is nothing to worry about unless you spot a change in their colour. These changes should be followed very carefully by a professional as they might lead to more complex oral health problems when they are left untreated. It is better to keep in mind that gum coloration might be a sign of a gum disease that can cause teeth loss when it is not treated. 

Reasons of the Gum Coloration

There are several factors that cause gum coloration including melanin levels, lifestyle choices such as drinking too much coffee and tea, and bad habits which include smoking. Depending on the melanin level on your body, your gums might be brown or darker. If your gums have not always been that way, it is better to visit a dentist to figure out the underlying reason. If you are a smoker, your gums might turn darker in time. You might even see black spots on your gums due to smoking. It is a fact that certain medications also cause gums to change their colour. 

Treatment Options For Gum Coloration

• Once the reason is found, your dentist might ask you to use or stop using certain medications. 

• If the coloration is caused by your lifestyle choices, you might need to consider quitting after receiving a cleansing procedure.

• Cleansing procedures can also be combined with teeth whitening to create a vivid smile. 

• Gum bleaching can be considered as an alternative if you want your gums to have a softer colour. The procedure itself is based on removing the top layer of gums that produce melanin. 

• Gum bleaching procedures might need to be applied to more than one session, but it is a big plus that the result is permanent. 

You can contact Gotocure for more information about dental and gum treatments.