Why is my gum black?

The more melanin a person has in their body, the darker their hair, skin, or eyes will be. Dark brown or black gums may be due to a person having more melanin in the body. If a person's gums have always been very dark, there is no cause for concern.

Is it normal for gums to be black?

You may have naturally dark gums because your body produces more melanin. If you were born with darker gums, it's perfectly normal for your body and there's no reason for concern.

What does black on the gum mean?

Black spots on your gums are usually harmless, but they can sometimes be a sign of teething problems in children or oral cancer. If you notice a new spot on your gums, make sure to tell your doctor about it. Even if the spot isn't cancerous, it should be monitored for any changes in shape, size, or color.

Are black gums serious?

If a person's gums have always been very dark, there is no cause for concern. If the gum color changes over a short period, however, or if patches of black appear on the gums, it is probably not caused by melanin and may indicate a medical issue.

Do black gums go away?

The change in color can appear in patches or affect the entire inside of the mouth. The inside of the cheeks and lower lip may also change color. Research has found a link between quitting smoking and reduced gum discoloration. This suggests that darker patches of color on the gums caused by smoking may be reversible.

Why Some People Have Black Gums

How can I get rid of black gums naturally?

Clove: Like eucalyptus oil, clove is a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Clove also stimulates the repair of damaged gum tissue. Use the leaf of the clove and massage it directly onto your gums. You may see some slight lightening after a few weeks of regular use.

How can I make my black gums pink?

What do oral cancers look like?

A patch of trouble

A white or red patch inside your mouth or on your lips may be a potential sign of squamous cell carcinoma. There is a wide range in how oral cancer may look and feel. The skin may feel thicker or nodular, or there may be a persistent ulcer or erosion.

Can you reverse gingivitis?

Believe it or not, reversing gingivitis is entirely possible—and doing so is crucial in preventing gingivitis from progressing into severe gum disease (which could lead to gum recession and tooth loss).

What color are healthy gums?

Healthy gums should look pink and firm, not red and swollen. To keep gums healthy, practice good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash once or twice a day, see your dentist regularly, and avoid smoking or chewing tobacco.

How do you fix gingivitis?

Use a mouth rinse to help reduce plaque between your teeth. Supplement brushing and flossing with an interdental cleaner, such as a dental pick, interdental brush or dental stick specially designed to clean between your teeth. Get regular professional dental cleanings on a schedule recommended by your dentist.

Why are my gums dark purple?

This process is known as Smoker's melanosis. The gums may turn purple or brown. The palate and the inside of the cheeks can also be affected by this change. Also, since tobacco is harmful, purple or brown gums can be a sign of gum disease or even oral cancer.

What are the stages of gingivitis?

When is it too late for gingivitis?

Gum disease is preventable, especially when it is diagnosed in its earliest stages. Even for those people with advanced gum disease, it is never too late to seek diagnosis and restorative treatment.

How long before gingivitis turns into periodontitis?

Slight Periodontal Disease

During the early gingivitis stages, gum inflammation can occur in as little as five days. Within two to three weeks, the signs of generalized gingivitis become more noticeable. If you still leave this untreated, it would progress to slight periodontal disease.

What does a gum tumor look like?

Mouth cancer on your gums can sometimes be mistaken for gingivitis, a common gum inflammation. Some of the signs are similar, including bleeding gums. However, gum cancer symptoms also include white, red or dark patches on the gums, cracking gums, and thick areas on the gums.

What does oral melanoma look like?

The initial symptoms of oral melanoma often include swelling alongside a brown, dark blue, or black macule. A macule is a flat, discolored area of skin with a normal texture and thickness. The primary tumor may have numerous groups of tumor cells surrounding it, called satellite tumors .

What does leukoplakia look like in the mouth?

Leukoplakia appears as thick, white patches on the inside surfaces of your mouth. It has a number of possible causes, including repeated injury or irritation. It can also be a sign of precancerous changes in the mouth or mouth cancer.

Should I brush my gums?

But the bacteria that live on your tongue and on your gums also must be cleaned away, in order to safeguard your oral health. Brushing and cleaning your tongue and gums properly is absolutely essential, because brushing alone simply is not enough to prevent cavities and gum disease.

Why is my child's gum black?

Children sometimes develop dark gums due to an eruption hematoma. This can happen when either a baby or permanent tooth is about to come in. This creates a cyst filled with fluid, and if there's blood in the fluid, that darkens the gum. The blood is typically present when an impact injures the eruption cyst.

Is gingivitis curable?

The good news is that gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease and can be cured by practicing good oral hygiene. It's also important that you schedule routine dental cleanings so we can remove plaque and tartar buildup.

What is trenchmouth?

Trench mouth is an infection that causes swelling (inflammation) and ulcers in the gums (gingivae). The term trench mouth comes from World War I, when this infection was common among soldiers "in the trenches." The appearance of normal teeth varies, especially the molars.

How can I make my gums whiter?

Does Listerine help with gingivitis?

The plaque buildup that leads to gingivitis can be prevented with twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, and twice-daily rinsing with an effective antiseptic mouthwash like LISTERINE^®.