Dark spots on gums: Causes and Treatments
Dark spots on the gums can be an annoying and worrying problem for many people. One of the common causes of this darkening is tobacco use, which once again is shown to cause various oral health problems. In addition, there is another factor known as "To treat this problem and improve gum discolouration, it is important to consider different approaches depending on the specific cause", which is characterised by an increase in melanin activity, responsible for darkening the skin. This condition is more common in people with dark skin.
To treat this problem and improve gum discolouration, it is important to consider different approaches depending on the specific cause.
Dark spots on gums: Causes and Treatments
Dark spots on the gums can be an annoying and worrying problem for many people. One of the common causes of this darkening is tobacco use, which is once again shown to cause a number of oral health problems. In addition, there is another factor known as "gingival melanosis", which is characterised by an increase in melanin activity, responsible for darkening the skin. This condition is more common in people with dark skin.
To treat this problem and improve gum discolouration, it is important to consider different approaches depending on the specific cause.
- Gingivitis: The most common treatment for gingivitis involves professional gum cleaning, which may be combined with the use of Chlorhexidine mouthwashes and/or antibiotics. In cases of ulcerative gingivitis, which is often painful and prevents initial cleaning, an initial course of antibiotics and mouthwashes is administered, followed by further professional cleaning.
- Aphthas: To address canker sores on the gums, it is first essential to identify the cause and treat it, such as possible chafing related to dentures or dental restorations. Then, effective healing mouthwashes or gels, such as those containing hyaluronic acid, can be used.
- Lichen planusLichen planus, especially the "white" type, which is usually asymptomatic, does not generally require specific treatment. However, regular monitoring is recommended to detect possible tissue changes.
- Gingival melanosisWhen it comes to gingival melanosis, the only effective treatment is gingivectomy of the darkened area, i.e. removal of that part of the gums. However, it is worth mentioning that there is a possibility of recurrence.
In terms of the effects of tobacco on gum colour, it is important to note that there are no known oral health benefits of tobacco use. In fact, smoking can aggravate the problem of dark spots and negatively affect overall oral health.
If you are interested in improving the appearance of your gums or in finding out more about the prices of a tooth whiteningWe recommend you to read our post related to this topic.
Remember that it is essential to maintain good oral hygiene and to visit the dentist regularly to prevent and treat any problems related to gums and oral health in general.