Can I Lighten My Gums
Dark gums can occur for a number of reasons. Most patients that are born with dark gum tissue simply produce more melanin than others. Melanin is the substance that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. Patients of African, Asian, and Middle Eastern descent have varying levels of melanin which can account for darker gums. For those who suddenly develop dark gum tissue or notice new dark patches need to be evaluated by their dentist to diagnose an underlying medical issue.
What causes dark gums?
External factors that can cause dark gums include tobacco use, amalgam dental restorations, medication, and certain medical conditions. Tobacco contains nicotine which actually causes the body to produce more melanin and can lead to dark patches on the gum tissue or affect the entire inside of the patient’s mouth. When tobacco used is stopped, the tissue may return to a normal pink on its own.
Amalgam fillings and other dental restorations can lead to metal leaching, in which restorations shed metal particles that can stain the gun tissue or inner cheek that makes contact with the metal. This is called an amalgam tattoo and is usually black, gray, or blue in color.
Long-term use of certain medications can cause a buildup of melanin resulting in darkening of the gums and lips. Treatment to lighten gum tissue will not be effective permanently unless the medication can be changed. Additionally, certain medical conditions and health problems can cause abnormal darkening of oral tissues. Endocrine diseases, such as Addison’s Disease and Peutz-Jegher’s Syndrome have symptoms characterized by patchy darkening skin and freckles. The sudden appearance of dark spots or a change in the color of gum tissue warrants and examination by your dentist.
Can I lighten my gums?
Depending on the cause of dark gum tissue, gum depigmentation treatment can be very effective. If there is no underlying medical condition, gum depigmentation is a highly successful treatment option. Include laser, microdermabrasion, and even gum surgery. Surgery involves the doctor surgically removing the outermost layer of gum tissue to reveal new pink tissue. Stitches and wound dressing are not necessary.
Microdermabrasion is the same procedure that you may have seen advertised with dermatology offices. A polishing tool is used to exfoliate and buffer away the outer layer of dark gum tissue, exposing the underlying pink connective tissue.
A laser is the most effective treatment for lightning gum tissue and works by vaporizing the top layer of dark tissue and destroying melanocytes (cells that produce melanin) to reveal underlying pink tissue.
Patients with particularly dark patches that run deep may need to have multiple visits to achieve desired results, regardless of the method used.
Gum depigmentation is a simple and safe treatment option for patients who want to improve the aesthetics of their smile. It is considered cosmetic and is unlikely to be covered by dental insurance but some offices offer payment plans or work with a third-party financial company to ease out-of-pocket cost, even for cosmetic treatments.
If you would like to have your gum tissue lightened, make sure to have the cause of your darkened tissue diagnosed before receiving treatment. Patients with underlying conditions that are not treated will have recurring dark tissue after lightening treatments. Gum depigmentation is a permanent treatment solution though some patients may need a touchup after 20 years or so.