Gum Bleaching

Chances are you have heard about teeth whitening and bleaching, but have you heard about gum bleaching? This unique procedure allows you to change or improve the natural color of the gum tissues surrounding your teeth. The results give you gums that look perfectly healthy and have a natural coral color across your entire smile.

Choosing to Have Your Gums Bleached

If you are unhappy with the color of your gum tissues and feel like they interfere with the appearance of your smile, then gum bleaching is a great option for you. Some people have natural hyperpigmentations in their gingival tissues, causing them to look dark, spotted, or even unhealthy. Dark gums can also be caused by smoking, medications, and old restorations such as silver fillings that leak into the gum tissues.

How Does Gum Bleaching Work?

Gum whitening or gum lightening can be done using a whitening solution along with a microdermabrasion process, or with a laser. Microdermabrasion is the more traditional method and usually takes less than an hour to complete. After the whitening gel begins to lighten the gingival color, the dentist uses what is similar to a polishing cup to buff the gum tissues and remove remaining melanin-containing cells.

Both methods safely and gently remove the superficial layer of pigmented tissue cells, exposing the coral gingiva below. The process is completely safe and gives you instant results on the very same day. Your mouth will be numbed during this process to prevent any discomfort.

Something to Keep in Mind

Your gums should first be free of any infection or disease – such as gingivitis or periodontal disease. We can screen for these conditions before performing the gum bleaching procedure. Healthy gums respond better with reduced irritation compared to gingiva that is infected with bacteria.