If your gums appear dark or blackened, don’t worry, there are a number of reasons why this happened. This condition might be due to heredity, ethnic background, certain medications or diseases, or an advanced form of periodontal disease or gingivitis.
Most people have pink gums, however, just as no two fingerprints are the same, various gum colors are also normal. Sometimes the gums may appear dark or black due to a higher concentration of melanin or imbalances in pigmentation. In most circumstances, black gums aren’t painful. This condition occurs most commonly in darker-skinned races, but it can occur in any race. Since excessive sun exposure causes melanin in the skin to darken, it can even cause melanin in the gums to get darker.
Some people develop spotty gums after they get certain types of dental treatment, such as dentures, fillings, and crowns. Gum discoloration of this type is called an amalgam tattoo, which is caused when tiny pieces from a filling or cap wedge themselves into the gums. This issue often looks like a blue or black tattoo in the mouth, and it too is harmless.
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Smoking, certain medications such as minocycline, antimalarial agents, or tricyclic antidepressants, or metal-based crowns or fillings may also cause gum discoloration.
Some dentists and periodontists are now offering a cosmetic bleaching procedure to lighten gums and improve their aesthetic appearance. This painless, in-office procedure alters the melanin pigment permanently, so gums appear pink and healthy.
Another condition that makes gums appear dark is acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, which can cause a grayish film to build up on the gums. Caused by poor dental hygiene and rarely seen today, this disease is commonly called “trench mouth” because World War I soldiers often developed the condition after spending an extended amount of time on the battlefield and not taking care of their teeth.
Black gums may also be a symptom of acute necrotizing periodontal disease, also known as black gum disease. The black coloration is a result of dead tissue, or necrosis. Other symptoms include spontaneous bleeding, the rapid onset of pain, a foul odor from the mouth, and gum tissue that appears blunted between the teeth, not the typical conical shape seen in healthy gums. Factors that may contribute to this condition include stress, poor nutrition, smoking, and viral infections such as HIV. If left untreated, the disease can spread to the cartilage and bones surrounding the teeth.
For those who want it, dark gums can be treated and lightened. The dark-colored layer can often be removed through a surgical procedure that reveals the pink-colored tissue underneath. After the healing process, only some of the pigmentation returns — and a lighter-colored gum remains. Darkened gums that gained their color due to damage & disease can be treated with antibiotics or by surgically removing the damaged tissue. Oxygen therapy, used in conjunction with systemic antibiotics, can also help reduce the damage to gum tissue caused by harmful bacteria.
