What happens if your gums are GREY?

Grey: Gums that appear to have a grey film over them are an indication of a weakened immune system. Whether you are a smoker or are under a lot of stress, grey gums are often connected to a bacterial infection that requires medical attention.

What do dentists do for bad gums?

Professional gingivitis care includes: Professional dental cleaning. Your initial professional cleaning will include removing all traces of plaque, tartar and bacterial products — a procedure known as scaling and root planing. Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums.

What does it mean when your gums are deteriorating?

Gum recession is when the margin of the gum tissue surrounding the teeth wears away, or pulls back, exposing more of the tooth, or the tooth’s root. When gums recede, gaps can form between the gum and tooth, allowing disease-causing bacteria to build up.

Do dentists help with gums?

Preventing and treating gum disease In most cases, your dentist or dental hygienist will be able to give your teeth a thorough clean and remove any hardened plaque (tartar). They’ll also be able to show you how to clean your teeth effectively to help prevent plaque building up in the future.

How do you treat gum discoloration?

Treatment is straightforward. A dentist will clean the mouth and may prescribe antibiotics. Rinsing the mouth with medicated mouthwash and keeping teeth and gums clean will help prevent repeat infections.

What causes gum darkening?

Specialized cells in the body called melanocytes make melanin. The nicotine in tobacco can cause melanocytes to produce more melanin than usual. Gums may become more brown or black. The change in color can appear in patches or affect the entire inside of the mouth.

What is ANUG in dentistry?

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) is a painful infection of the gums, causing fever, sometimes foul-smelling breath, and feeling ill. If the normal bacteria in the mouth overgrow, the gums can become infected. The gums hurt, and people sometimes have extremely bad breath.

Is Arestin necessary?

This blanket use of medication is not necessary for most patients, because they usually respond well to non-surgical treatment without antibiotics.

How does a dentist know if you have gum disease?

Gingivitis is commonly diagnosed with a dental exam. Your dentist will look for inflammation of the gums and plaque or tartar at the base of the teeth. Using a probe, your dentist will determine the severity of your gum disease by measuring pockets in your gums and decide if further tests are required.

What is melanin gum?

Melanin, the dark pigment that gives skin its color, is also present in gum tissue. This pigment naturally darkens the gums. The Future Dental Journal reports that melanin pigmentation is common among people of African, Asian and Mediterranean ancestry.

Why do my gums turn gray with trench mouth?

When people have trench mouth, they develop a gray film on their gums and may experience a bad taste in their mouths. Leukoplakia is a condition that causes white or gray patches on the gums, tongue and inner cheek area, according to WebMD. The only way to know the cause of a patient’s gums turning gray is to conduct a proper dental exam.

Can gray gums be prevented?

While not all causes of gray gums can be prevented, good oral hygiene can prevent trench mouth. Merck Manuals describes the treatment of trench mouth as a thorough, professional dental cleaning, often followed by hydrogen peroxide rinses. Antibiotics may be necessary, depending on the extent of the infection.

What causes gray/blue spots on the gums?

Gray/blue spots on the gums, cheeks, tongue or roof of the mouth can also be caused by the amalgam used in certain dental procedures. Simple Steps to Better Dental Health states that the amalgam metal in fillings, crowns or caps can be pressed into the soft tissues of the mouth during dental procedures or rub into the tissues slowly over time.

Why is the area below the gums so hard to clean?

The area below the gums is harder to clean and often decay begins there. Because it is harder to clean patients often do not clean well here. In case you were wondering, cleaning the margins of restorations and cleaning below the gums requires massaging the gums with a toothbrush and flossing or comparable oral hygiene treatment.