Why Some People Have Black Gums

[ad_1]

The gums are tissues lining the teeth in the upper and lower jaw. It holds the teeth in position and prevents the entry of bacteria into the lower delicate part of the teeth.

Gum colours vary from person to person due to various factors ranging from medical to lifestyle factors.

Good oral health plays an important role in determining the colour of your gums. They range from pink to brown or black.

Why have your gums turned black? Here are some of the factors that have played a role in changing the colour of your gums.

1. Smoking

Smoking can lead to discolouration of gums, a condition known as smoker’s melanosis where the nicotine present in cigarettes stimulates specialised cells that produce melanin called melanocytes. Its stimulation leads to the production of excess melanin that causes gums to either become too brown or too dark.

2. Medications

Black gums can be associated with side effects of drugs like antimalarial, cancer therapy drugs, and antibiotics used to treat various diseases. This causes a change in pigmentation which mostly occurs in the mouth.

A person should seek a doctor’s advice upon noticing discolourisation as alternative drugs can be offered to reduce this effect.

3. Melanin

The body produces melanin naturally. Melanin is a colouring pigment that determines the skin colour of people. The more melanin in one’s body, the darker the hair, skin, and other parts of the body.

Therefore, black gums may be due to the effect of more melanin in the body, this is normal and there is no need for raising concerns. However, if the gum colour changes within a short time, this is a red flag and one should seek medication from a qualified dentist immediately.

The post Why Some People Have Black Gums appeared first on LitKenya.

[ad_2]

Source link