If you look at your gums, do you notice any darker spots that look like stains? We generally associate healthy gums with being mostly pink, but some people have pigmentation or coloring on their gums that is brown or darker colored. This does not mean you have a health issue; it is usually due to excess melanin producing cells in your mouth, but it is important you get your gums checked out by a dentist to make sure that excess melanin is what is going on in your gums. If you dislike the darker spots in your smile, there are procedures that can eliminate the coloration and unify your smile. Gum bleaching, or gingival peeling is a common cosmetic procedure that your dentist can perform to enhance your smile.
What is gum bleaching?
The procedure, also known as gum bleaching, or gingival peeling, eliminates stains on the oral tissue from the melanoplasty technique, based on scraping the epithelium (the organic material that lines the skin and organ cavities) to lighten and/or eliminate gum staining or pigmentation.
In this article, we will discuss what gum bleaching is for, how it is done, and how long the effect of gum bleaching lasts. Finally, the content explains how the postoperative period works and informs when this aesthetic procedure is indicated for the patient. Read it right now and clear your doubts about this dental technique!
What is gum bleaching used for?
The function of gum bleaching is to remove stains and whiten the gum region, removing cells that leave your mouth tissue with a dark appearance over the years. After the aesthetic procedure, the epithelium takes less than a week to form a new layer of gum in pink color, making the smile more harmonious.
How is gum bleaching done?
The gingival bleaching process has relatively simple and quick steps, starting with local anesthesia. Afterwards, the dentist performs a superficial peeling of the gum, removing the cells that cause the darker pigmentation of the tissue. After the gingival whitening session, which usually lasts 60 minutes, new epithelial tissue begins to appear in the region that underwent the intervention. In turn, the aesthetic result can be seen in about a week.
How long does the effect of gum bleaching last?
The effect of gingival bleaching can last for up to 3 years, and there may be a need for retouching during this period, depending on the clinical case. The aesthetic result has an “expiration date” due to the formation of melanin-producing cells, the so-called melanocytes, which gradually modify the appearance of the gingival tissue.
How does the post-op gingival bleaching work?
After performing the gingival peeling, the patient must be careful with the postoperative period, following the dentist 's guidelines, which, in general, are:
* no smoking for 15 days after the procedure;
* use soft brushes;
* do not drink soda and alcohol until the gums heal;
* do not perform oral sex and do not kiss unknown people during tissue healing;
* make mouthwashes three times a day in the period of 2 weeks after the oral intervention.
When is gingival peeling indicated?
Gingival peeling is an aesthetic intervention indicated for patients who suffer from the dark appearance of the gums, whether brown, gray or black pigmentation of the gum tissue. But, to find out if you can perform the procedure, you need to consult with a trained dentist, who analyzes the oral cavity and indicates, if possible, performing this technique on the patient.