Can You Get Your Gums Bleached?
Healthy, aesthetically pleasing gums are an important part to a healthy smile that gives you confidence! Hyperpigmentation in the gum tissue can appear as brown or even black gums. This is not necessarily indicative that anything is wrong, some people simply have more melanin in their skin which includes gum tissue. Patients of African or Middle Eastern descent often have darker gum tissue from excess melanin which can sometimes appear patchy and uneven.
Gum bleaching, or gum depigmentation, is a cosmetic procedure used to remove dark spots on the guns. Gums are typically a pale pink color but abnormally high amounts of melanin can cause dark spots in patches to appear on the tissue. This discoloration can negatively impact the way you feel about your smile and result in decreased self esteem for some.
It is important to accurately diagnose the reason you are experiencing dark patches on your gums. Poor oral hygiene and gum disease can cause tissue discoloration. Additionally, patients that smoke can develop a condition called “smoker’s melanosis” in which dark patches appear and can even take over the entire inside of a patient’s mouth. There are also certain medications with a side effect of gum hyperpigmentation. In this case, you might consider asking to change medication before receiving treatment for your dark patches.
Can you get your gums bleached?
Gum depigmentation does not utilize any type of bleach or lightning agent to lighten gum tissue. Either microdermabrasion or a laser is used to remove dark patches and reveal underlying, lighter tissue.
Microdermabrasion targets the surface of the gum tissue to peel away the epithelium and melanocytes to expose the underlying connective tissue to help induce pink, firm keratinized tissue. This procedure is similar to the micro dermabrasion used in dermatology offices to remove the outermost layer of skin for a fresh, more even skin tone.
Laser gum depigmentation works the same way, just with a handheld laser. Surface tissue is vaporized to expose the lighter underlying tissue and to kill melanocytes, reducing melanin production. Either procedure takes only about 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the area being treated. Patients that have deeper dark tissue may require more than one visit.
After Gum Bleaching Treatment
It is normal to experience some level of discomfort and sensitivity after completing treatment. During treatment, your gum tissue will be numb but as the anesthetic wears off, you may begin to feel minor pain. This can typically be managed with an over-the-counter pain medication such as Advil or Tylenol. Patients can expect to return to normal daily activities the day after treatment.
Completing is a simple cosmetic procedure with a high rate of success. Patients see results immediately after treatment and within a week or two, should be completely healed from the procedure. It is a good idea to stick to soft foods for a few days immediately following treatment, to avoid irritating the new tissue. If you have dark gum tissue or patchy, uneven tissue, speak with your dentist to determine the cause and see if you are a candidate for gum bleaching.