WHAT IS GUM WHITENING?
Gum whitening refers to therapy designed to lighten the gums. It is for patients who have dark gums and would prefer them to be pinker in appearance. The treatment is often cosmetic, though not always.
State-of-the-art gum whitening uses laser technology to break down color-causing compounds in the gum to restore a brighter smile. We apply a gentle dental laser to melanin-rich tissue, breaking apart pigment particles so that the body can process and eliminate them.
If you are unhappy with your smile’s appearance, then gum whitening could be a great option. Some patients have naturally darker gums because of heredity. For others, it is the result of smoking or gingival conditions. Darkened gums can cause confidence issues and make you want to cover your smile in social situations.
With gum whitening from Baton Rouge Perio, you can fix gum discoloration quickly and easily. Many patients only require a single whitening session to get the look that they want. Previously dark, spotty, or uneven gums look consistent and pink.
Most gum whitening treatments take less than an hour to perform. What’s more, they’re safe and recommended by dentists. Both methods provide rapid improvements in the appearance of your smile, without the need for any surgery or use of a scalpel – just beautiful gums delivered in record time.
CAUSES OF BLACK GUMS
There are many causes of darkened gums:
- Melanin: Melanin is the substance that gives skin, hair, eyes, and gums their color. Some patients make a lot of it naturally, which leads to a darkening of their gums. If you’ve had dark gums your entire life, it is not something you need to worry about from a health perspective. However, you may want to eliminate it as a cosmetic concern,
- Smoking: Smoking causes discolored gums by provoking melanin-producing cells in the body to produce more of the pigment. Nicotine from cigarettes interacts with melanocytes, leading to a darkening of the gums and other parts of the mouth.
- Medication: Medications for acne and some infectious diseases, like chlamydia, can lead to discoloration of the gums. An antibiotic called minocycline, for instance, can lead to the production of additional pigmentation, which changes the color of gum tissue.
There are other conditions that can cause black or darkened gums that our periodontist can discuss with you during your consultation.
TREATMENT FOR BLACK GUMS & DARK GUMS
The type of treatment that you receive for dark gums will depend on the cause.
If your gums are dark because of naturally high melanin levels, we recommend laser treatment.
Laser gum whitening is currently the state-of-the-art procedure for making dark gums appear pinker. We direct a specialized dental laser to areas of concern. The emitted light frequency breaks down melanin particles in the tissue, allowing the body to clear them away in the weeks after treatment. Patients will notice that their smiles look brighter and fresher within a few days.
Depending on the cause of your dental discoloration, our dentists in Baton Rouge, LA, may also use whitening compounds on your gums, paired with microdermabrasion. The combination of whitening and friction removes excessively dark pigmentation areas, giving your teeth a pinker and more vibrant frame.
DOES IT HURT?
Gum whitening is relatively comfortable. Before we begin the procedure, we apply some numbing agent similar to a local anesthetic you might have for a dental filling. We then use the laser on your gum, section by section, targeting the pigmented areas.
Manufacturers create lasers that specifically target the melanin while leaving your normal healthy tissue untouched. For this reason, the treatment is very gentle.
Whitening methods are slightly more invasive because of the microdermabrasion element. However, discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter medication.
RECOVERY TIME
How long recovery takes depends primarily on the degree and depth of discoloration. Highly discolored gums could require more intensive treatment than lighter ones. Most patients experience some mild discomfort and soreness after gum whitening. Typically, patients experience discomfort for a couple of days. After that, the discomfort generally subsides. Practically everyone can return to their routine immediately following treatment – there’s no downtime.
CONTACT US
Are you considering gum whitening in Baton Rouge, LA? If so, then get in touch with our team today. We will thoroughly investigate the source of your dark gums and then offer a treatment plan to ensure your smile looks perfect, pink, and vibrant.