Why Your Gums Should Not Be Red Or Black

Periodontics is a branch of oral hygiene that deals with your gums, their coloration, and their health. In Caucasian people, their gums are typically a healthy shade of pink. Gums can also be brown to a purplish-brown color in people of African American descent, and more coral in color in people of Native American descent. Gum coloration in other races is equally as diverse. Yet gums, regardless of their healthy color initially, should never be red or black. Here is why.

Red Gums

People often think of their gums as being red. When juxtaposed against white, healthy teeth, it is easy to see why you might think that gum tissue should be red. Gingiva against white teeth looks very dark pink, but it is not red. If you actually have red gums, you have periodontal disease (i.e., gum disease). This is confirmed if your gums also bleed, hurt, and/or appear to be receding away from your teeth. In some instances, your gums can be restored by a periodontist, but only in the early stages of the disease.

Black Gums 

If your gums start turning black, you are in a lot more trouble than you realize. It means that your gum disease has advanced to the point that your gum tissue is dying. It is necrotic, and it will become much more unpleasant if left untreated. (Even if you are African American with dark gums, your gums should still not be really black. If you have loose teeth and rotten breath along with the black gums, then you definitely know that this is not normal.)

A periodontist can surgically remove the dead gum tissue, leaving healthy tissue behind. Scaling and deep cleaning underneath the living tissue that remains will encourage the living tissue to reattach to your teeth. If you use the medicated rinses and toothpaste prescribed by the periodontist, you can help the remaining gum tissue stay healthy. 

Continued Treatment

Even after you start seeing a periodontist, you may have to return for continued treatment. This is meant to ensure that the conditions that brought you to the periodontics' office will not return and cause further problems for your overall oral health. When the periodontist feels that your treatment program is both successful and complete, then you can stop seeing him/her. During this time, and long after your treatments are over, you should be seeing your usual family dentist regularly. If you are looking for a periodontics office, reach out to a local office like New England Dental Specialists of Norwood

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