Your teeth turn black at the gum line mainly due to hardened plaque (tartar) absorbing stains and blood, poor oral hygiene, smoking, and staining foods, but it could also signal tooth decay or trauma, requiring a dentist to diagnose and treat the underlying cause, like removing tartar or treating decay.
Removing Black Tartar
The cleaning process your dentist will undertake is known as scaling and root planing, where black tartar is scraped off above and below the gum line. Fortunately, tartar buildup can be prevented with a few simple steps: Brush at least twice a day for two minutes at a time.
Gum recession: When gums recede, the edge of a crown or tooth root can become exposed. This area may appear dark and is often mistaken for decay. Cavities or tartar buildup: Decay or hardened plaque along the gumline can create dark spots or lines that only professional cleaning and treatment can remove.
Poor oral hygiene can cause plaque and tartar accumulation near gums, resulting in gum discoloration and leading to gum disease. This can manifest as black on gum line where plaque accumulates, progressive darkening if untreated, associated bleeding and inflammation, and is preventable through proper oral care.
Management and Treatment
Topical fluoride is the most common treatment for early-stage enamel erosion. Fluoride helps strengthen your enamel and stop erosion from getting worse. It can't reverse tooth erosion, though. (You can't regrow enamel once it's gone.)
Some signs may include:
The 2-2-2 rule in dentistry is a simple guideline for good oral hygiene: brush twice a day, for two minutes each time, and visit your dentist twice a year, helping to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems by establishing consistent habits for plaque removal and professional monitoring.
Vitamin B12 deficiency — This essential vitamin helps eliminate bacteria in your mouth, preventing plaque from building up and causing tooth discoloration. If your teeth are stained and your gums are unusually red, you may need to incorporate more B12 into your diet.
It might be yellowish at first, but it can turn darker over time. Tartar feels like a hard shell on your teeth. Unlike plaque, you can't remove tartar with brushing and flossing.
When addressing tooth decay at the gum line, professional dental treatments offer effective solutions:
In most cases, black teeth are a sign of decay, damage, or buildup that requires professional attention. Some people first notice a small dark spot that spreads, while others may find the entire tooth turning dark. Either way, it's important to understand what's happening and what can be done about it.
Swollen gums
An increase in the size of the gums (known as gingival hyperplasia) is reported as a symptom in a small portion of leukaemia patients. The gum around the teeth will look swollen with inspection and you might feel a tightness in your mouth.
Dark gums might signal a gum infection known as trench mouth, requiring immediate dental attention. Certain medications can also cause gum hyperpigmentation. Remember, early detection of any gum color change, even oral cancer, is key. So, if your gums are darkening, don't hesitate to see your dentist.
While it may seem like a good idea to remove tartar on your own, the risk of harming your teeth or gums if you're using anything other than floss or a toothbrush is high.
The treatment for dark gums depends on the underlying cause. Here are some options: Improved Oral Hygiene: Brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and using an antiseptic mouthwash can help control plaque and inflammation, leading to lighter gums.
Vitamin D plays a significant role in keeping your teeth healthy—according to a 2020 article, Vitamin D Deficiency and Oral Health: A Comprehensive Review, vitamin D deficiencies can lead to several oral health disorders, like gingival inflammation, cavities, and gum disease.
If tartar is still left untreated, it can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, receding gums, gingivitis, and additional damage to teeth.
PROVEN TOOTHPASTE FOR CALCULUS, TARTAR and PLAQUE REMOVAL: TartarEnd is the only toothpaste that dissolves calculus, tartar and plaque above and deep below the gum line, proven to remove calculus, tartar and plaque.
No, a water flosser cannot remove hardened tartar, but it's excellent at removing the plaque that turns into tartar, preventing buildup and keeping gums healthy, making it a great supplement to brushing, not a replacement for professional cleanings where actual tartar is removed by a dentist. Tartar (dental calculus) is hardened plaque that sticks to teeth and requires professional tools (scalers) for removal.
Those dark markings you see are usually caused by something called chromogenic bacteria. These naturally occurring bacteria produce pigments that react with iron in your child's saliva, creating a black or dark brown stain, typically along the gumline of their molars or front teeth.
Causes include plaque buildup, eating lots of sugary snacks and poor oral hygiene. Treatments include dental fillings, root canal therapy and tooth extraction. The sooner you treat a cavity, the better your chance for a predictable outcome and optimal oral health.
Here are 10 unexpected signs of a vitamin D deficiency that may surprise you.
Using a mouthwash that contains fluoride can help prevent tooth decay. But don't use mouthwash (even a fluoride one) straight after brushing your teeth because it will wash away the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste left on your teeth. Choose a different time to use mouthwash, such as after lunch.
Not caring for your teeth well or thoroughly enough can cause symptoms that include: Chronic bad breath (halitosis) Tooth sensitivity. Gums that bleed after brushing.
Code 2 – Slight bleeding when probed, Calculus or Plaque present and gingival pockets under 3.5mm.