Gum Lightening

Gum lightening | Facial plastic surgery is one of the most requested cosmetic procedures for men and women. Facial plastic surgery is not limited to Hollywood smile , rhinoplasty or the manufacture of dimples , but there are cosmetic procedures specialized in lip beautification and the supply of gums.

The perfect smile is no longer limited to white teeth only, but the gums also have its share of cosmetic procedures, because gum pigmentation is a problem that many suffer from for various reasons, and fortunately, the brilliant development that dentistry has reached has given the opportunity for those to change the appearance of their gums in quick ways. They are painless and their results last for a lifetime. Learn more about these methods in our article for today…

Istanbul International Beauty Center is considered one of the best international centers in performing plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine specializing in the face, due to the presence of an expert medical staff and the use of the latest medical and cosmetic technologies:

Istanbul International Beauty Center

What does it mean to lightening gums

The term “Gum lightening” refers to a purely cosmetic procedure.
That is, the gums are completely healthy, but this procedure is done for cosmetic purposes and can be performed in several ways, which we will address in a dedicated paragraph.

But what are gum pigmentation and when do we need a Gum lightening?

Some of the reasons that we will mention in the next paragraph result in an increase in melanin pigment in the gums.
Which leads to the appearance of brown, blue or even yellow pigmentation, giving an unpleasant appearance to some patients, which prompts them to undergo this procedure.
Note that the natural gums appear in a light pink spotted color.
And by spotted we mean that its structure closely resembles that of an orange peel.
And this appearance is evidence that dentists infer the health and safety of the gums, while the excessive redness of the gums indicates inflammation in them.

Causes of black gums

Delving into the causes of gum pigmentation will lead us to a sea of possible causes, including what is natural or pathological, internal or local, dangerous or healthy, etc… But here we will summarize as much as possible the most common and most important reasons:

skin colour

Since the main cause of gum pigmentation is increased melanin.
As we know, people with dark skin have a higher melanin production. This may appear as pigmentation in the gums, which is completely normal.

smoking

Smoking is the first enemy of oral health and the oral cavity, as it harms not only the pigmentation of the teeth, but also the gums.
The pigmentation may be in the form of spots or pigmentation on the gums completely, due to the stimulation of the nicotine substance present in the melanin-making cells.
Thus, the production of melanin increases, and the pigmentation resulting from smoking is usually closer to black or dark brown.

calculus

Calculus is defined as hard deposits that are found on the edges of the gums and teeth and form a bacterial focus that causes gum problems.
Sometimes calculus is found under the gums, causing them to become pigmented with a yellowish tint.

amalgam tattoo

Amalgam, or as it is known among the common folk, is a metallic filling consisting of mercury, silver, lead, copper and tin.
These minerals cause discoloration of the gums surrounding the tooth during the placement of the filling by the doctor or over time and the introduction of the filling.
But it is usually small pigmentation and in invisible areas of the gums and does not need treatment.

some diseases

Some diseases such as melanoma, a malignant tumor that appears in the form of a melanoma spot anywhere in the body, including the gums and mouth, are caused.
And some other diseases such as Addison’s disease cause pigmentation in the gums as well.

aging

Some pigmentation appears in the elderly and is normal and the result of aging only.

How to lightening gums at home

After we talked about the causes of gum pigmentation, we now come to mentioning the proposed solutions to keep them in a healthy appearance, which in turn will automatically make their color pink, and the most important of these solutions are home solutions as they show satisfactory results and the supply of gums is natural in them, including:

Eat foods rich in vitamin C:

Taking a quick look at the tissue structure of the gums, it consists of one of the four types of tissues that make up the human body, which is the connective tissue.
And one of the most important elements that keep this type of tissue together is vitamin C.
Its deficiency even causes many diseases such as scurvy, and the first symptom of this disease is bleeding gums.
This is evidence of the importance of vitamin C for the gums, so it is recommended to eat more peppers, tomatoes, citrus fruits and leafy vegetables.

Maintaining good oral health:

This may sound counterintuitive and repetitive advice, but it will surprise you to know that the first stage of gingivitis begins exactly two days after the last time you brushed your teeth!
Yes, if you have not brushed your teeth for two days, the infection has already started and its results will soon appear if you do not correct this neglect with good oral care.
Your gums contain more than eight thousand types of germs, some of which are opportunistic, waiting for the right opportunity and unclean environment to start their sabotage work.
There are still other undiscovered species, according to recent research.

Methods of supplying gums medically

Speaking of Gum lightening methods, there are two common methods, one of which is laser Gum lightening, which we will talk about in the next paragraph in detail, and the other is gum whitening by peeling.

Gum whitening with peeling:

It is based on the application of a whitening solution that is applied to the gums.
The doctor uses a tool similar to a robotic nail file to file the gums and remove the layer that contains the melanin cells that lead to pigmentation.
This process takes about an hour and is considered the fastest way to whiten gums. It is also safe and removes only the surface layer.
So you don’t have to worry about your gums getting hurt or something.
Also, this method is characterized by that the results are immediate, and the doctor will give you anesthesia before performing this operation, and therefore it is not painful.
But you must bear in mind that you will not be able to undergo any cosmetic procedure for the gums, whether it is whitening, cutting, or others, if your gums are not completely healthy.
And free from calculus accumulations, pockets, infections, receding or enlarged gums.
Various periodontal diseases such as aspiration gingivitis, etc… All of this can be confirmed with a simple medical examination

Laser Gum lightening the most important steps and tips

Laser Gum lightening is the second method of Gum lightening in addition to the supply with peeling and they are the only two methods currently used in dentistry with aspirations to find new methods such as supplying gums with nitrogen-supported laser.

The process begins with local anesthesia and then directs the laser beam to the gums.
The melanin that causes gum pigmentation absorbs laser rays and as a result, the temperature of the melanin-producing cells increases dramatically.
Which leads to its destruction and the melanin pigment that gives us the unwanted color disappears with it.
The body recognizes these destroyed cells as foreign bodies.
So it cleans them from the gums and produces new cells that give the gums a pink color, and thus the process of supplying the gums with laser is over.

Is the supply of gums permanent

In fact, the definitive answer depends on you. In dentistry, there is no permanent cosmetic or treatment procedure unless it is accompanied by correct and targeted oral care, which includes veneers, GumBleaching, teeth whitening of all kinds, etc…

The result can last up to twenty years or more, and here we can provide you with some tips to make the result last as long as possible:

Stay away from smoking as much as possible because it reduces the blood supply to the gums, leading to gum diseases that affect their color and cause nicotine stains in them.
Make sure that your crowns or bridges have good edges and do not put pressure on the gums or cause food to collect in them. This is done through the periodic examination of the doctor.
Removal of calculus, tartar and calcifications in general on a regular basis to ensure that they do not cause gum disease and yellow gum pigmentation, as previously mentioned.

How much does it cost to lightening gums

After we got acquainted with several methods of supplying gums, it is obvious that each method has a price:

This same method will cost differently from one clinic to another and from one country to another.
But the average cost ranges between $800 and $1500

My experience with laser GumBleaching

The American doctor, Tom Hedge, published on his YouTube channel the experience of one of his patients with the supply of gums, where she said:

I have always suffered from gum pigmentation until one day I decided to do gum laser surgery.
My gums look completely different and all my friends liked the result.
It only took a third or half an hour and everything was back to normal after only about a week, I’m thankful I took this step.

Tips after supplying gums

Finally, after we got acquainted with this simple and easy procedure, we must also provide you with some important tips to maintain the result that you obtained after whitening, and these tips are:

Avoid smoking and alcohol as much as possible.
Eat healthy food rich in fiber and vitamin C.
Maintaining the cleanliness of the gums and teeth, whether by home care such as brushing and the use of flosses.
And also through periodic cleaning of the gums and teeth at the doctor.
This guarantees a satisfactory result that lasts for more than 20 years.

In conclusion, we remind you to take care of your oral health as a whole and not only in aesthetic aspects, such as supplying gums and teeth whitening, because healthy and clean gums and teeth are the first steps towards a beautiful smile.

Gum lightening