Gums Hyperpigmentation: Why Does It Happen and What Can You Do About It?

If you have naturally dark skin, chances are you’ve notice that your gums have an uneven or blotchy appearance. If so, you’re not alone! It’s estimate that between 60 and 80 percent of black people have this condition, known as hyperpigmentation. For many black people, the underlying cause of gum hyperpigmentation isn’t clear, but there are treatments available to improve the appearance of your gums, making them look even tone and white again.

The Basics

Striae in your gums, also known as gum hyperpigmentation, is a common condition. It can be cause by genetics or poor oral hygiene. Sometimes it’s not possible to know exactly what causes striae in your gums but there are still some things you can do about it. If you have irregularly shape brown or black patches, it could be a sign of skin disease like lichen planus or sarcoidosis, so please contact your dentist for treatment.

Causes of Gingival Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is most often seen as striae or strands, as a diffuse deep purplish discoloration or as irregularly shape brown and light brown or black patches. In other words, hyperpigmentation can affect the gingiva, cheeks or inner lips. To illustrate how this may look in comparison to unaffecte gingiva, compare Figures 1 and 2.

Some Natural Remedies

There are a number of different natural remedies for gingival hyperpodermia. Most people agree that the best treatment is to maintain good oral hygiene habits. If you are still struggling with stains, there are also several at-home remedies that can be use. These include hydrogen peroxide and tea tree oil, lemon juice or milk, as well as salt water to wash with.

A great product to try if nothing else seems to work is Arbonne’s Clear Gum Tonic which tackles gingival discoloration with an all-natural formula containing witch hazel, aloe vera, manuka honey extract and other herbs like ginger and green tea extract.

Laser Treatments

Frequently, these types of stains are amenable to laser treatments. To minimize patient discomfort, many treatment centers utilize a non-invasive anesthesia (intravenous sedation or oral sedation) in combination with a local anesthetic such as lidocaine to help reduce the sensation of discomfort during treatment. Multiple treatments may be necessary and some patients will even see improvements after just one treatment. Typically, two visits per week for four weeks is need to achieve the desire results.

Choosing Your Treatment Option

If you have isolate red patches that might be postinflammatory, topical treatments such as skin lightening ointments or oral doxycycline may offer some relief. If your hyperpigmentation is more diffuse, either as a diffuse deep purplish discoloration or as irregularly shape brown and light brown or black patches, then laser treatment offers the best chance of successful treatment with more uniform improvement in pigmentation. All patients must have an initial screening visit before undergoing any form of treatment to assess their suitability for laser therapy.

How is Melanosis of the gums treated?

In most cases, hyperpvalentiation of the gingival tissues resolves spontaneously or with treatment. Treatment is limit to reducing darkening of the teeth, which results in greater contrast with darken gums. Treatment may include laser therapy for darker colors. Striae or strands occur when there is diffuse deep purplish discoloration or as irregularly shape brown and light brown or black patches that are found only on the gum tissue. The color usually fades to a light brown after removal of plaque build-up around teeth.

Can gum discoloration be fixed?

There are a few treatments for gingival hyperpigmentation. The most common treatment, the whitening procedure, does not lighten your gums but instead reduces or eliminates the superficial stains. Striae or strands as a diffuse deep purplish discoloration or as irregularly shape brown and light brown or black patches can be another type of treatment which removes unwant markings from the surface layer of your gums.

How can I naturally lighten my gums?

Oral pigmentation, or gingival hyperpigmentation, is a condition in which some part of the mouth becomes darker than the surrounding area. Gingival hyperpigmentation usually begins as brown marks on the teeth or lips, then over time develops into darker patches and spots. This occurs when excess melanin—the pigment that gives skin its color—accumulates in tissues beneath the surface of the gums or lip. Most often, people with naturally darker skin have larger quantities of melanin, not just within their skin but also within their gums and are more prone to oral pigmentation.

What is oral pigmentation?

Oral pigmentation, also known as gingival hyperpigmentation, is a relatively common occurrence that causes the teeth to look darker than they usually are. The darkening usually occurs on the surface of the gum tissue but it can extend into the dentin. Gingival hyperpigmentation develops when melanocytes (cells that produce skin-darkening pigment) come too close to the gum line in certain parts of your mouth. With enough stimulation, the melanocytes will begin producing more pigment than usual. The specific stimulus for oral pigmentation development isn’t known with certainty but factors such as poor oral hygiene, poor nutrition or vitamin deficiencies may contribute to it.