Multifocal Pigmentation, or dark gums and other mucus membranes of the mouth, isn’t considered to be a health threat. In fact, it’s more common than you may think; it’s estimated that about 50 percent of the population has at least some degree of Dark Mucosal Pigmentation (DMP) on their gums and other oral mucus membranes. There are several different causes of DMP but no treatment options or way to reverse or prevent it from getting worse.
The Cause Of Dark Gums:
There are two forms of multifocal pigmentation: ethnic and racial. Ethnic pigmentation is the natural result of melanin pigment in the gum tissues and oral mucus membranes. It is not uncommon for African Americans or Hispanics to have darkly pigmented gums because their oral mucus membranes will also be darkly pigmented. For some Caucasians, this is an inherited trait from their parent’s side of the family tree. Racial pigmentation can also occur when people drink a lot of coffee or alcohol or if they smoke cigarettes; these habits encourage the production of melanin in oral tissue and gums which can lead to darkly pigmented gums. More importantly, though, there is no evidence that having darkly pigmented gums limits self-confidence.
The Diagnosis:
Not all pigmented gums and oral mucus membranes are the same. Multifocal pigmentations are when the color is uneven and can be dark in some spots, but light in others. People with multifocal pigmentations have had this condition since birth. This type of pigmentation is not a health concern for your teeth or mouth; however, it may affect how confident you feel about your smile.
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The Treatment:
The most common treatment for dark gums is bleaching. Although there are many types of bleaching agents on the market, the most effective ones contain hydrogen peroxide. To make it work effectively you will need to brush your teeth and gums with the chemical every day or twice a day until you see results. You will also need to use an oxidizing agent like Listerine or salt water between treatments because this helps keep your teeth and gums healthy while the bleach is working.
The Results:
Darker pigments in the gums and oral mucus membranes are caused by melanin. Melanin is a pigment that is produced by cells called melanocytes found in the skin. In the mouth, these cells are found only on the gingiva (gum) and hard palate. Dark pigments do not affect your health at all but they can lower your self-confidence if you feel that they make your smile less bright or white than you would like it to be. Fortunately, dark stains can be removed with treatments such as laser therapy which will destroy the top layers of tissue without damaging any of your teeth or gums.
The Aftercare:
Dark gums are not a health threat and with regular teeth cleaning, the pigment will eventually fade naturally. However, many people feel that darkly pigmented gums limit the self-confidence afforded by a bright white smile. Some treatments for dark gums are tooth whitening or bleaching treatments and laser therapy. Laser therapy is more expensive than tooth whitening but it can help reduce the appearance of pigments on your gums in as little as one session.
