What Do Spots On Your Gums Mean? Understanding Purple, Gray, And White Spots
Have you noticed purple, gray, or white spots on your gums? You are not alone - spots on the gum tissue is quite common. This article will explain what these spots are and whether you should be concerned.
Gum spots are not as straight-forward as you might expect. Spots, or gum discoloration, can occur for a number of reasons. Most of the time, these spots are harmless, but in other situations, spots may indicate that you need dental treatment as soon as possible.
You may be interested to learn that the color of the spots does not indicate their cause or seriousness. Other factors such as where the spots are located in the mouth, their size and shape, and how long you have had them, provide more information.
Let’s dig in and learn more about the common causes of gum spots.
What Do Spots on Your Gums Mean?
Gum spots are unique to each individual and cause. Some are flat and barely noticeable, while others may appear raised, irritated, or ulcerated.
The most common causes of gum spots are:
• Natural pigmentation
• Minor bruising or trauma
• Irritation from aggressive tooth brushing, dental appliances, or food
• Dental materials that have become embedded in the gum tissue
• Infections or other inflammatory conditions affecting the gums
• Medication-related changes in pigmentation
• Tobacco-related damage
• Oral lesion that requires further evaluation (less common)
As you may have noticed, there are a host of reasons why you may have developed spots. In fact, some people have had gum spots their whole life and have just never noticed them before.
When trying to determine a cause, it is important to take all of the factors into consideration.
What Do Purple Spots on Your Gums Mean?
Purple or bluish spots can sometimes be caused by bruising. If you've recently brushed your teeth aggressively, eaten something sharp, or experienced another minor injury, a small blood vessel may have been damaged.
While these types of spots typically start off purple or bluish, the vibrancy of the color often fades over time as it heals. As a result, dental injuries such as these can appear purple, blue, gray or anything in between depending upon when you notice it.
It’s also important to know that some people just naturally have darker gums. Like skin, gum tissue is not one uniform color throughout the mouth. Some sections of your mouth may have a darker or lighter tone, which may look to you like spots.
What Do Gray or Dark Spots on Your Gums Mean?
Gray or blue-gray spots can have several causes as well.
In addition to the causes mentioned above, another possibility is discoloration associated with previous dental treatment. In rare instances, particles from dental amalgam can become incorporated into the gum tissue, creating a flat blue-gray or gray area known as an amalgam tattoo. These spots are permanent and non-toxic.
What Do White Spots on Your Gums Mean?
Sometimes a white area is simply the result of irritation or part of the healing process.
It’s also possible that the spot is actually a canker sore. Canker sores commonly appear white or yellowish in color, usually accompanied by a red border. These sores generally heal without treatment.
Another possibility is oral thrush, a fungal infection that can cause white patches inside the mouth. Certain medications and health conditions can make thrush more likely.
When a spot deserves attention
A persistent white or red patch shouldn't simply be ignored if it doesn’t go away or grows over time.
The American Dental Association (ADA) has discussed these types of lesions and has shown that while white or red spots are generally harmless, they can also be precancerous in rare instances. The ADA recommends seeking dental attention if your white or red spot does not resolve within two weeks.
Please keep in mind that finding a white or red spot does not mean you have cancer. There are many benign explanations. It simply means that you should schedule an appointment with your periodontist if your unexplained spots do not resolve on their own.
Can Gum Disease Cause Spots?
Gum disease regularly presents itself as red, swollen, recessed, or bleeding gums. However, those symptoms are not the same throughout the entire mouth. As a result, gum disease can also cause spots to develop. Spots alone do not suggest that you have gum disease, but if you have the other symptoms of periodontitis as well, seek out a periodontist for a professional opinion.
When Should You See a Dentist or Periodontist?
A spot that appeared after an injury and is clearly getting better may simply need time to heal.
We recommend having an area checked if:
• It has been present for longer than two weeks
• You have never noticed it before and you can’t remember suffering an injury
• It is getting larger or changing color.
• It bleeds without an identifiable cause
• It remains painful or inflamed
• You notice a lump or thickened area
• You experience numbness around the area
• You have other changes in your mouth that concern you
Remember - your periodontist is concerned with your oral health. If in doubt, it is always smart to give them a call or schedule an appointment.
What Can You Do Until Your Appointment?
The best things you can do while waiting for your appointment is:
• Try to remember if you suffered any kind of irritation or injury
• Continue brushing and flossing
• Be gentle with the area - do not attempt to pop or scrape it
• Take a picture to monitor changes over time (use the flash on your phone)
• Refrain from tobacco or alcohol (these can cause irritation or damage the immune system)
• Don't Panic, But Don't Ignore a Change
In most cases, spots go away on their own. So it’s not worth stressing yourself out just because you notice something unusual on your gums. That being said, it is very important that you don’t procrastinate if you are convinced that a spot is growing or becoming a problem. It’s always safer just to schedule an appointment with a periodontist and get an opinion.
Have a Spot on Your Gums You're Concerned About?
If you've noticed a purple, gray, white, or dark area on your gums and aren't sure what it means, we'd be happy to take a closer look. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation.