One is always vigilant when it comes to taking care of the teeth in the oral cavity, but what about gums? They are easily neglected, and people remain unaware of the changes happening to them. They remain unaware of the ongoing situation of the gums until they see a visible change, such as a white spot on it!
It is well-known that healthy gums are pink-colored flesh like visually. In cases of neglect, they change their color and may turn red or even white if you don’t follow proper oral hygiene. You should talk to a dentist as soon as you see any changes like a bump in the mouth, white spots on gums, etc. If you suffer from a similar condition and wonder, “Why are my gums white?” continue this blog for your answers.
Reasons For A White Spot on Gums
A white dot on the gums is a marker for underlying trouble your oral cavity goes through. Do not ignore the calls because the reasons for its appearance may range from dietary habits such as alcohol or smoking to diseases like leukoplakia. Let’s look at 5 common reasons why a white dot appears on the gums.
Leukoplakia
In this condition, white-colored patchwork starts growing from the mouth base and then moves on to the gums, cheeks, or even the tongue. You may think that brushing away white spots from gums is easy, but we emphasize getting proper treatment for it.
Treatment
Firstly, the dentist extracts a sample which is sent for biopsy. Once the results are in treatment plan starts accordingly. For starters, making healthy choices such as quitting smoking and alcohol may help in speedy recovery.
Gingivitis
Gum inflammation is inevitable with poor oral hygiene. The main reason for this is the development of bacterial bodies in your gums. Treating this issue on time is crucial; apart from a white spot on the gums few other symptoms that come along are:
- Gum bleed at the time of brushing
- Loose fragile teeth
- Red gums
Treatment
Regular brushing and floss along with deep dental cleaning- scaling and root planing process at least 2 times a year keeps Bacteria away from the mouth. For infection, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics for systemic clearance.
Tooth extraction
The gum around the tooth turns white in a spot or dotted manner after extraction. The good news is that this effect is temporary, and gums will return to their original color within some days.
Anemia
Any person having low red blood cells in the body suffers from a condition known as anemia. The RBCs are necessary for transporting oxygen to a functioning body. There are multiple reasons for developing anemia, such as lack of vitamin B-12 to iron deficiency.
Treatment
A healthy diet and external supplementation for iron or vitamin B-12 aid in healthy cell regeneration and circulation.
Oral Thrush
It is a yeast infection of the oral cavity and is also known as candidiasis. It is frequent in babies and toddlers; this fungus fills their gums with pale white bumps that look like a dot or spot.
Treatment
Antifungals work best for treating thrush.
Final Words
White spot on the gums clearly indicates that there is an unnatural underlying condition which must need to be addressed. Mostly, the causes are not that grave, yet treating them should be your priority. Reach out to us at Pearland Family Dentistry for more information; call 832 649 7344 for more.