It's important to note that while healthy gums are often a pink color, there can be some pale color around your teeth and that's perfectly normal. Now the pink color can vary depending on your race or ethnicity as certain gums will be darker or lighter than others.
As we noted above, chewing stimulates saliva production which keeps your gums from collecting bacteria around the gumline. For healthy pink gums, maintain a balanced diet, brush, and floss daily, and see your dentist every six months for cleanings.
What Color are Unhealthy Gums? Disease-causing bacteria can cause gums to become inflamed, which can sometimes lead to bright red gums. In other cases, the bacteria can cause an infection that results in white or blue gums. And in severe cases, the infection can cause the gums to turn black.
Like other organs and tissues of your body, when your gum tissues don't get enough oxygen, they may turn pale. There are several causes that can trigger anemia. It is usually caused due to the deficiency of iron, folate, or vitamin b-12.
Melanin: The body naturally creates melanin, a substance in skin, hair, and eyes. The more melanin people have in their bodies, the darker their skin and hair will be. Dark brown or black gums may be due to a person having more melanin in the body.
Gum color varies just like skin color does. If you aren't caucasian, you may have dark brown gums or may experience spotted darkness on your gums. This can be due to an increase of melanin production in your body and is completely normal and natural. As you age, you may also notice that your gums change color.
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.
Pale gums are a common sign of anemia, and mild anemia can be managed at home by increasing the intake of iron. However, severe cases can be life-threatening. Speak with a doctor or dentist about pale gums as soon as possible. Receiving treatment early can reduce the risk of complications.
If you notice that your gums are lighter than usual (whether or not they were naturally pink before), then your oral health may need to be addressed with a dental professional. Pale gums may also be a sign of other medical issues, such as anemia, leukoplakia, or menopause.
Anemia can cause your gums to be pale, which some have labeled "anemia gums." Instead of a typical, healthy pink, the gums take on a faded or whiter shade of their standard color. This paleness can also impact the tongue and mucous membranes inside your mouth.
Some forms of dark gums from smoking, amalgam tattoo, bacterial infections, or medications can easily be treated with gum bleaching and laser depigmentation procedures. Some, like lead poisoning, Addison's, etc., may require treatment of the underlying cause followed by gum depigmentation procedures.
Gingivitis can cause dusky red, swollen, tender gums that bleed easily, especially when you brush your teeth. Healthy gums are firm and pale pink and fitted tightly around the teeth. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis include: Swollen or puffy gums.
White gums can turn pink again in a matter of hours or days when it comes to dental treatments like whitening or tooth extraction. For medical conditions like an autoimmune condition or gum disease, however, it may take longer for your gums to return to their normal colour.
Healthy gums are pink (or light brown if you are darker-skinned), firm, and do not bleed when you brush or floss. The gums fit snugly around the teeth on all sides to help protect the underlying bone.
Non Surgical Gum TherapyNon Surgical Gum Therapy
Having healthy, pink gums with an even gumline improves your appearance as well. Our periodontist can help you get back the pink gums.
Pink, red, pale, or even a bloody red – the color of your gums can tell the condition of your oral health. But generally, dentists at Icon Dental Center, Everett, and Seattle say that light to dark pink gums are the healthiest, whereas, the red color may mean your gums are sensitive or inflamed.
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, and can often be successfully reversed if diagnosed and treated quickly.
Healthy gums should be pink and firm to the touch, but in the early stages of unhealthy gums or a worse gum disease (known as gingivitis), they can become red, swollen or, even painful.
It could be the result of bruising. Just like skin, gums can bruise, leading to darker coloring that will eventually go away on its own.
People may notice that their gums change from a bright or even a pale pink color, to a dark pink, red, or even brown color. This can be a totally natural change as people age, or it can also be a symptom of a bigger problem.
Pink gums which are firm are usually healthy. The same is true of brown gums. Usually hereditary, pink gums and brown to black gums with regular texture are (with exceptions for sudden changes due to health conditions) healthy. Red gums are a red flag and signal infection or inflammation.
An excess of melanin (the stuff that makes your skin darker) in the body is typically what causes black gums. People with darker skin are much more likely to have black gums because they naturally have more melanin in their bodies.
Tartar Buildup
Foods, beverages, and other factors can turn it a noticeable brown color as a result. The buildup of tartar on and between teeth is often the result of a lack of brushing and flossing on a regular basis. It can also serve as an alert you are developing gum disease.